A little less than a year ago, Ukraine offered the US a large-scale ''drone deal'' worth up to $ 50 billion, which includes the export of Ukrainian technologies and joint production of drones. But there is still no decision from the US.
This was stated today by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a conversation with journalists, RBC-Ukraine reports.
According to Zelensky, it was planned to launch an export structure for a number of areas: drones, technologies, drones based on artificial intelligence, artificial intelligence technologies and electronic warfare systems.
In return, Ukraine planned to receive money and means of protection against ballistic missiles. Ukraine urgently needs the latter. In fact, Kiev proposed to replace the anti-drone system with an anti-missile defense system.
''So our proposal was that we could provide the system, and the United States should be the first, because they significantly support us with anti-ballistic weapons and are a strategic partner of Ukraine. That is why we offered the United States a deal for drones,'', Zelensky explained.
According to him, US President Donald Trump has shown interest, as has the US military. There has never been any talk of Washington not being interested.
''I don't know the volume: how much the United States wants. And if we have free capacity, but working, we will do it, because it is good for our exports. And I have never heard that the United States is not interested, Zelensky emphasizes.
Production volume
According to the president, Ukraine offers the United States a huge system for the operation and production of drones. We are talking about a system in which 200 companies can work.
''The choice will be made by the United States. You can choose: today, for example, this interceptor... Tomorrow another, another company with new technologies, we must be flexible,'' Zelensky added.
Ukraine is also ready to create joint ventures in a 50/50 format, where Ukrainian and American engineers will work, and the drones will be available for use by two countries: Ukraine and the United States.
''The United States will receive our technologies. Our enterprises will increase production volumes. Half of the products will go to our front line, that should be enough. And half of the capacities that currently cannot produce more due to the financial deficit will go to our partners, the president explained.
The document has not yet been signed.
Ukraine and the United States have not yet concluded an agreement. But in the meantime, many other countries have shown interest in the proposal, Zelensky noted.
''We talked with European countries about drones - and we already have agreements with them. And we received such requests from the Middle East, from the Persian Gulf countries - very specific requests with direct offers, large offers. There were also offers from Africa and several other countries,'', the president noted.
According to him, the deal is estimated at 35-50 billion US dollars. This is a large deal for many years. Ukraine is ready to conclude such deals not only with the US, but also with other countries.
''We wanted to maintain relations with the Americans and Europe and show priority. This is the situation with the drone deal now. As you can see, we have the first production lines in Germany. They are working. It has just started in the UK. We also have production in Denmark. And this is a good start to new relations in the field of defense,'', Zelensky summed up.
Last year it became known that Ukraine had offered the US to sign the drone deal. The document provides for the supply of Ukrainian unmanned systems (UAVs, sea drones and ground robots) for the needs of the United States in exchange for royalties, investments and the purchase of American weapons worth tens of billions of dollars.
The Pentagon considers Ukrainian technologies as a critical element for the Replicator and Artemis initiatives, aimed at preparing for a potential conflict with China in the Pacific region.