A delegation from the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, along with representatives from the Ministry of Defense, visited the United States to discuss the prospects of concluding a strategic agreement on unmanned aerial vehicles. This was reported on October 2 by NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Negotiations on the “Drone Deal” and the establishment of joint production
According to Umerov, the parties continue to implement the agreements reached by the presidents of Ukraine and the USA. The main focus of the negotiations is on the implementation of the presidential initiative “Drone Deal,” which involves preparing to sign an agreement for the purchase of Ukrainian drones. An important part of the negotiations also included the possibility of creating joint Ukrainian-American production sites.
“The key issue is the implementation of the presidential initiative ‘Drone Deal.’ The main goal of the Ukrainian team’s visit is technical negotiations to prepare for signing the agreement to purchase Ukrainian drones. Its implementation also envisions the possibility of creating joint Ukrainian-American productions.”
The Ukrainian delegation held a series of meetings with representatives of the Pentagon, the U.S. Congress, and military officials. The discussions focused on deepening strategic cooperation, utilizing the excess capacities of Ukrainian drone manufacturers by selling part of their products, as well as further modernization and joint development of new technological platforms.
Ukrainian drones and international interest
Rustem Umerov emphasized that Ukraine is currently one of the world leaders in drone technology. According to him, the Ukrainian experience in the development and application of not only aerial but also maritime and ground robotic systems generates significant interest among partner countries.
Particular attention during the negotiations was given to the PURL mechanism, which allows for financing the purchase of American weapons through European countries. Plans for supplying drones in 2026 and the potential for increasing the volume of cooperation were discussed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously stated that Ukraine plans to export part of its surplus weapons to obtain additional funds for acquiring scarce items. In September, he noted that nearly 60% of the weapons currently used by the Ukrainian military are produced by domestic enterprises.
Serhiy Honcharov, Executive Director of the National Association of Defense Industries of Ukraine, emphasized in a July interview that the export of defense products could serve as a powerful stimulus for modernization and recovery of production after the devastating attacks by the Russian Federation.