Zelenskiy Says Ukraine-U.S. Drone Deal Includes American Factory for Advanced UAV Production

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said cooperation with the United States on military drones will extend beyond exports, revealing plans to establish a drone manufacturing facility in the U.S. using Ukraine’s battlefield-tested technology.

Speaking in an interview with U.S. conservative commentator Laura Loomer that aired Friday, Zelenskiy said Kyiv aims to quickly expand an initial drone agreement reached with Washington. He described the partnership as mutually beneficial, combining Ukraine’s advanced unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) expertise with U.S. technological capabilities.

“Our drone deal is win-win,” Zelenskiy said. “We will build a great factory in the United States. We want production lines.”

Ukraine has emerged as a global leader in drone innovation during its more than four-year conflict with Russia, relying heavily on unmanned systems to offset Russia’s larger military. Zelenskiy noted that Ukrainian drone technology continues to evolve rapidly, with some long-range drones now capable of flying more than 3,000 kilometers (1,800 miles), and even greater range is expected in the future.

The proposed U.S. production facility reflects growing defense cooperation between Kyiv and Washington as both countries seek to strengthen drone manufacturing and expand access to next-generation military technologies.

A source familiar with the matter said details of the agreement are still being finalized ahead of Zelenskiy’s scheduled meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, according to a White House official.

Reuters previously reported that Ukraine had agreed to export drones to the United States as part of the Pentagon’s Drone Dominance program. According to a source familiar with the arrangement, six Ukrainian drone manufacturers have each been authorized to export around 100 drones to the U.S., although the individual spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions remain confidential.

Ukrainian media also reported that Kyiv and Washington have signed a statement of intent establishing the framework for joint drone production, laying the foundation for deeper defense-industrial cooperation between the two countries as demand for advanced UAV technology continues to grow.