Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the US to conclude a drone deal with Ukraine. “The US wanted to test all types of our drones. We agreed to the way they wanted to test, train with, and use our systems in the air, on land, and at sea. But we still don’t have a bilateral drone deal – a big framework document,” Zelenskyy posted after discussing the topic on CBS Face the Nation.
Middle Eastern countries have come under Iranian attack – often using the same Shahed drones that Russia fires at Ukraine – as a result of the war started by Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump has been dismissive of Ukraine’s widely acknowledged expertise in the wartime use of drones, claiming the US does not need Ukraine’s help. That has been belied by Middle Eastern countries jumping into deals to source Ukrainian defensive drones and training for personnel.
“The drone deals we have are with some countries in the Middle East and Europe, and now we are preparing a big drone deal with the EU. I hope we will reach the same agreement with our American partners,” Zelenskyy said, while acknowledging that Ukraine could also benefit from US expertise. “American companies have advanced AI technologies we don’t have. In turn, we have many things they don’t have, due to our extensive experience on the battlefield. I think this cooperation can be huge … for this, we need President Trump to say yes.”
