The Ukrainian delegation, with the deputy defense minister Serhijew at the head, is currently in Washington, where he talks with representatives of the State Department and Pentagon. The American daily emphasizes that a potential agreement, supported by the presidents Donald Trump and Wołodymyr Zelnski, may become a key step in defense cooperation between Ukraine and the USA.
According to “WSJ”, negotiations regarding the agreement may take several months, and the value of the contract is estimated at billions of dollars. Although American companies are leaders in the production of advanced drones, Ukrainian technology is distinguished by the ability to produce cheap and effective unmanned unmanneders that have already proved their effectiveness on the battlefield.
The President of Ukraine Wołodymyr Zielnski announced on Saturday that the Drone Agreement would be part of a wider packet of cooperation with the USA, including the purchase of American weapons worth tens of billions of dollars. Various technology transfer mechanisms are being considered, including the supply of prototypes to American enterprises, establishing subsidiaries in the USA or the direct purchase of Ukrainian drones by the American army.
What about Chinese components?
However, one of the key challenges is the issue of Chinese components that are found in Ukrainian drones. American safety regulations prevent the use of technology containing parts produced in China, which requires additional arrangements between the parties.
“Wall Street Journal” reminds that the United States has been supporting the development of the Ukrainian drone industry for years. After the unsuccessful counteroffensive of Ukraine in 2023, the administration of the then President Joe Biden allocated $ 1.5 billion. for the development of Ukrainian drone and rocket programs. The American intelligence at the time indicated that investments in short and long range drones could significantly increase Ukraine's defense capabilities.
In 2022, Ukrainian companies produced over two million drones, which places them at the forefront of global producers of this technology.
