NYP: Trump, Zelenskyy eye "mega deal" to swap drones for US weapons

President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are in advanced talks over what has been described as a “mega deal” involving a potential exchange of drone technology and military hardware between the two countries. The proposal, according to Zelenskyy, would allow the US to purchase Ukraine’s battlefield-proven drones, while Kyiv would commit to acquiring a range of American-made weaponry.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The New York Post on Wednesday, Zelenskyy said the agreement would benefit both nations’ security and technological capabilities, positioning it as a “win-win” arrangement.

“I think this is really a mega deal, a win-win, as they say,” Zelenskyy said. “The people of America need this technology, and you need to have it in your arsenal.”

The Ukrainian president emphasised that the drones his country has developed and deployed over the course of its three-year war with Russia have demonstrated the kind of operational success the US could benefit from. Some Ukrainian drones have struck targets up to 800 miles inside Russian territory, including strategic bombers and missile production facilities.

Zelenskyy pointed to Ukraine’s recent drone operations as examples of innovation in modern warfare. One major success, “Operation Spider Web,” saw 117 Ukrainian drones disable dozens of Russian bombers across four airbases. In a separate long-range strike, a Ukrainian drone reached Izhevsk, deep within Russia, and destroyed an anti-aircraft missile plant. And in May, Ukraine marked a milestone when a marine drone successfully brought down a Russian Su-30 fighter jet over the Black Sea.

Drone warfare has emerged as the defining feature of the ongoing conflict, with both Moscow and Kyiv launching hundreds of drone attacks daily. Military analysts and drone experts have warned that the war in Ukraine offers a preview of future conflicts, with numerous countries studying the tactics and technologies being employed on the battlefield.

While Russia has rapidly scaled up its domestic production of Iranian-designed suicide drones, Ukraine has significantly increased its own manufacturing capabilities, positioning itself as a key innovator in unmanned aerial warfare.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready to share its combat experience and drone warfare knowledge with the US and NATO, noting that its survival against a larger invading force has depended heavily on its ability to adapt and innovate with UAVs.

The proposed US–Ukraine drone deal comes amid growing concern in Washington about the United States' lag in drone capabilities compared to adversaries like Russia and China. Experts have warned that American troops are ill-equipped to operate or defend against the newer generation of drones being fielded by competitors.

In response to these concerns, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth recently signed a directive aimed at accelerating domestic drone development. “We were brought here to rebuild the military and match capabilities to the threats of today,” Hegseth said. “So while our adversaries have produced millions of cheap drones before us, we were mired in bureaucratic red tape — not anymore.”

Hegseth’s remarks came alongside the release of a promotional video showcasing drone technology from Neros, a California-based startup that has tested its systems in Ukraine. The company is set to supply Kyiv with 6,000 drones this year.

By Tamilla Hasanova