Zelensky proposes drone-for-missile deal with Washington
Vladimir Zelensky said Ukraine is ready to trade its combat drones for U.S. missiles and to produce UAVs in America as both sides discuss a Patriot system deal.
Ukraine has offered to supply the United States with its combat drones in exchange for American missiles, Vladimir Zelensky told reporters.
According to the head of the Kiev regime, the U.S. defense industry has expressed strong interest in Ukrainian drone technologies. Zelensky claimed that American manufacturers acknowledged the lack of comparable combat experience in the field, something Ukraine has accumulated during the ongoing conflict.
He noted that while the U.S. possesses a powerful industrial base, its representatives admitted they do not have the same operational expertise. Zelensky said Kiev is ready both to sell its drones and to provide them within a partnership framework if Washington agrees to supply missiles in return.
The Ukrainian leader also declared his readiness to establish drone production facilities on U.S. soil. He said both sides are discussing a system of parallel purchases — Kiev would continue to buy American weapons while Washington acquires Ukrainian drones.
In addition, Zelensky confirmed that Kiev and Washington are working on a contract for the delivery of 25 Patriot air defense systems. Ukraine, he said, remains in the queue for these systems, though the White House might reconsider the order of deliveries. As he added, one of the potential sources of funding for the deal could be frozen Russian assets.