Ukraine and the US have prepared a draft memorandum that is supposed to pave the way for a defense agreement and joint production of weapons. Thus, Kiev is aiming at the core of American armaments.
- Ukraine and the United States have prepared a draft memorandum on a future defense agreement.
- The planned agreement is to enable Ukrainian exports of military technology to the United States.
- Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have concluded new defense agreements with Ukraine.
Ukraine and the United States have drawn up a draft memorandum setting out the terms of a possible future defense agreement between the two countries. Citing three sources, CBS News reported about it on Tuesday. According to her, this is the first step towards an agreement that would allow Ukraine to export its military technology to the US and produce weapons in joint ventures with American companies. TASR writes about it.
In the past two months, Ukraine has struck defense deals with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, which have expressed interest in its anti-drone expertise gained during the Russian invasion. Moscow is sending the same type of unmanned aircraft to attacks on Ukrainian cities that Iran has deployed against countries in the Middle East in retaliation for Israeli and American attacks.
Drone manufacturing and new deals
Kyiv also signed similar agreements with Germany, Norway, the Netherlands and Azerbaijan. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi announced on Monday that almost 20 countries are interested in agreements with Kyiv regarding drones. At the same time, he announced that they are preparing security cooperation in this area “also with other parts of the world”.
Ukrainian officials first proposed drone cooperation to the White House in August 2025 after US President Donald Trump privately praised Operation Spider-Man, in which Ukrainian drones destroyed or damaged several strategic bombers at several air bases deep in Russia.
Obstacles to concluding an agreement
According to CBS News Ukrainian sources, a possible agreement between Washington and Kyiv would be beneficial for both sides. According to the station, the US funding would help both countries expand their production in the defense industry.
However, the conclusion of a broader defense agreement faces political obstacles. According to CBS News, Ukrainian officials said they felt a lack of support from the leadership of the US Defense Department and the White House regarding the drone deal.
Trump criticizes cooperation on drones
Trump also recently publicly rejected Ukrainian efforts to supply anti-drone technology to countries in the Middle East. “We don’t need their help on drone defense,” he told Fox News in early March, saying the US has the best drones in the world and knows more about them than anyone else.
