Ukraine eyes weapons, drone deals during upcoming visit to US

KYIV - Ukrainian officials will visit the US in September or October for talks on major arms purchases and drone production deals, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sept 27.

Mr Zelensky was in the US this week

for the UN General Assembly

and to meet US President Donald Trump.

He said he had shared with Mr Trump “a certain vision of what could be done” to respond to Russia’s actions in

its war on Ukraine.

Ukraine has prepared a list of about US$90 billion (S$116 billion) of American weapons that it wants to buy.

“In addition to the large arms deal, which we call the ‘Mega Deal’, we also discussed the ‘Drone Deal’. Technical groups are already starting to work on this deal,” Mr Zelensky told reporters, briefing them on his visit to the US. “It concerns drones that the United States will purchase directly from Ukraine.”

During more than three and a half years of war, Ukraine has

created a drone industry

from scratch, with hundreds of producers making millions of drones, but it lacks the financial resources to scale up production further.

Ukraine also depends heavily on weapons supplies from its Western allies, especially for air defence.

Mr Zelensky said Ukraine has already deployed one Patriot missile defence system

received recently from Israel

and expects to receive two more Patriot systems this autumn.

Strengthening air defence and protecting cities and residents from Russian bombardment remains a top priority for Mr Zelensky’s government.

In recent months, Russia has stepped up its drone and missile strikes, sometimes

sending hundreds of drones a night.

Ukraine is responding by sending its own drones to

hit Russian energy and oil facilities,

and Mr Zelensky indicated he might have other ideas.

“It’s pointless to expect Russia to take conciliatory steps towards Ukraine. Accordingly, Ukraine should take appropriate steps towards Russia,” he said. REUTERS