The U.S. and Ukraine have drafted a landmark defense agreement that would allow the two countries to jointly manufacture military drones and enable Kyiv to export combat-tested technologies to American defense firms, CBS News reported.
The draft, negotiated by the U.S. State Department and Ukrainian Ambassador Olha Stefanishyna, is seen as an initial step toward establishing joint drone manufacturing ventures that would combine Ukrainian battlefield innovation with U.S. financing.
The proposed agreement comes as Ukraine seeks to scale up its defense production capacity while facing a significant funding gap. Ukraine’s National Security Council estimates its defense production potential at $55 billion in 2026, but current funding levels cover only about $15 billion in weapons procurement, CBS News reported.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said nearly 20 countries are now engaged in drone-related cooperation with Kyiv. The technological cooperation gained momentum after Ukraine deployed drone interceptors to the Middle East to help U.S. allies counter Iranian-designed Shahed drones used by Russia.
“Nearly 20 countries are currently involved at various stages: 4 agreements have already been signed, and the first contracts under these agreements are now being prepared,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
In March, Ukraine signed drone deals with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, and in April it signed similar agreements with Germany, Norway, and the Netherlands.
Several Ukrainian companies have already brought their technology to the U.S. In March, General Cherry, one of Ukraine’s largest drone manufacturers, signed a deal to produce UAVs in the U.S. alongside American military manufacturer Wilcox Industries.
The Pentagon has also invited Ukrainian companies to take part in its Drone Dominance initiative, a $1.1 billion program aimed at identifying drones for U.S. military contracts.
Ukrainian officials told CBS News they felt senior figures in the Department of Defense and the White House were not fully supportive of a proposed drone deal with Ukraine. In March, President Donald Trump publicly pushed back against Ukraine’s efforts to provide counter-drone technology to the Middle East.
“We don’t need their help in drone defense,” Trump told Fox News. “We know more about drones than anybody. We have the best drones in the world, actually.”
CBS News sought comment Tuesday from the White House, the U.S. State Department, and the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington on the emerging deal, but received no immediate response.
