Ukraine Pursues $90 Billion U.S. Arms Mega Deal and Drone Partnership

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced that officials from Kyiv will soon visit the United States to advance negotiations on major arms purchases and new drone production agreements. The talks, expected later this month or next, follow Zelenskiy’s recent visit to the U.S. for the United Nations General Assembly and his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

During the visit, Zelenskiy presented what he described as a “vision” for countering Russia’s continued aggression. Central to Ukraine’s strategy is a massive $90 billion request for American weapons, dubbed the “Mega Deal.” Alongside this, Kyiv is also working on what Zelenskiy called the “Drone Deal,” under which technical groups are already in discussions. Unlike the weapons purchase, this agreement involves the United States buying drones directly from Ukrainian manufacturers.

Ukraine’s defense sector has developed a robust drone industry over the course of the war, with hundreds of domestic producers supplying millions of drones. However, limited financial resources have prevented large-scale production. U.S. cooperation in this area could provide both funding and market expansion, strengthening Ukraine’s ability to respond to intensifying Russian missile and drone attacks.

Air defense also remains a critical priority. Zelenskiy confirmed Ukraine has already deployed one Patriot missile defense system recently supplied by Israel, with two additional Patriot systems expected this autumn. These systems are vital for shielding Ukrainian cities and infrastructure from near-nightly Russian bombardments.

As Russia escalates its drone and missile strikes—sometimes launching hundreds in a single night—Ukraine has retaliated with long-range drone operations targeting Russian oil and energy facilities. Zelenskiy stressed that expecting conciliatory steps from Moscow is unrealistic, insisting that Ukraine must take “appropriate steps” to protect itself and pressure Russia in return.

With the prospect of a record-setting arms agreement and expanded defense partnerships, Ukraine is positioning itself to strengthen its military capabilities while deepening strategic ties with the United States.