Ukraine and United States advance joint long‑range drone production

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine plans to field unmanned aerial vehicles capable of flying 5,000–10,000 kilometres as early as next year, expanding on existing drones that already reach over 3,000 kilometres. He announced a near‑finalised agreement with the United States for a joint drone production venture that will include a U.S. factory using Ukrainian technology. Six Ukrainian firms have received permission to export roughly 100 drones each for the Pentagon’s “Drone Dominance” programme, and a statement of intent has been signed to underpin the partnership.

The deal is being finalised ahead of Zelenskyy’s scheduled talks with U.S. President Donald Trump. Ukrainian drone units are also intensifying strikes on Russian maritime targets, having hit more than 180 vessels around Crimea and the Black Sea in recent weeks, as part of a broader effort to pressure Moscow’s war logistics.