Both tracks of discussions were confirmed to POLITICO by two senior Ukrainian officials familiar with the matter, however no agreement has been finalized yet.
“We do see strong interest in Ukrainian counterattacking drones from a very wide range of countries, including the United States. That is understandable: Ukraine has built unique, battle-proven solutions on how to detect, track and counter this type of threat at scale, in real conditions,” a Ukrainian defense industry representative told POLITICO on condition of anonymity.
They added that any export decision requires “government-to-government coordination and must be aligned with security considerations, export controls, and broader strategic priorities.”
Zelenskyy posted on X on Thursday: “We received a request from the United States for specific support in protection against ‘shaheds’ in the Middle East region. I gave instructions to provide the necessary means and ensure the presence of Ukrainian specialists who can guarantee the required security. Ukraine helps partners who help ensure our security and protect the lives of our people. Glory to Ukraine!”
Ukraine has become a world leader in drone warfare over the last four years since Vladimir Putin launched Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
From the start of Russia’s attack, Iran has supplied Moscow with many thousands of its Shahed drones, which are packed with explosives and crash into Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure. Russia now produces its own Shaheds and has dramatically upgraded their capabilities as part of the tech arms race with Ukraine.