President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine is expanding its defense export ambitions, pushing negotiations with Denmark, Norway, and Germany, while also initiating multibillion-dollar drone contracts with the United States.

Speaking to journalists on Friday, July 25, Zelensky announced that Kyiv is in talks with European countries to establish production lines abroad for Ukrainian-made weapons, Interfax-Ukraine reported.

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He confirmed an agreement has already been reached with Denmark, which will fund drone production during wartime under a 50/50 model with Ukraine’s private sector.

“[These drones] worth 100, 200, 300 million will be manufactured and transferred to Ukraine during the war.” Zelensky said. “The production line is 50/50 with the private sector…After the war, Denmark will use the same lines to fill stockpiles for their army.”

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Interfax-Ukraine reported Zelensky also revealed that, in a deal discussed with US President Donald Trump, he ordered Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal, and Presidential Advisor Oleksandr Kamyshin to prepare contracts worth between $10 billion and $30 billion for drone sales to the United States.

Zelensky previously said Trump is interested in purchasing unique Ukrainian drones. “There are many drones that only we have. And we’re discussing this with President Trump. I told him I really want to buy things from you that only the US has. He told me that America wants to buy Ukrainian drones… I truly want America to help us defend our skies. That’s very important,” Zelensky said in an interview with Newsmax correspondent Shelby Wilder in Kyiv, Interfax-Ukraine reported.

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Ukraine plans to start sharing its military technologies with “partner countries in Europe and beyond,” as well as establishing production lines for drones, missiles, and artillery abroad, Zelensky said.

The United States has unveiled a new low-cost combat drone aimed at rivaling Iranian-designed Shahed-type drones, online military magazine Defence Blog reported on July 16.

Since late 2022, Shahed drones have played a key role in Moscow’s airstrike strategies against Ukraine, valued for their affordability and substantial payload.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reviewed the drone, known as the Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS), during a July 16 demonstration at the Pentagon.

Developed by Arizona-based defense contractor Spektreworks, LUCAS was designed as a flexible, modular platform for strike, reconnaissance, and communications support.

Described as a “reliable and cost-effective,” the drone features an open architecture design that enables quick payload swaps and various launch options, including vehicle deployment.

The revelation comes as Russia’s increasing deployment of Shahed-type drones in Ukraine.

Ukraine has concentrated on building fleets of interceptor drones to target and neutralize incoming Shahed-type UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles). Anti-drone defense has become a top priority for national security.

“Ukraine is already using interceptors to shoot down Shaheds and is expanding their production,” President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office wrote on June 21.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had reached an agreement with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sale of Ukrainian drones to the United States.

Zelensky estimated the potential contract to be worth between $10 billion and $30 billion.

The news comes as Zelensky earlier announced a “win-win” deal, under which Washington would purchase Ukrainian-made drones in exchange for Kyiv acquiring U.S. weapons. The Trump administration has also approved two potential military sales to Ukraine worth an estimated $330 million.

“This agreement is in place,” Zelensky said, speaking to journalists on July 24.

Oversight of the upcoming contracts with the United States will be carried out by National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal, and presidential advisor Oleksandr Kamyshin, according to Zelensky.

Ukraine is working to relocate elements of its national weapons production abroad, and is currently negotiating with Denmark, Norway, and Germany to establish joint manufacturing arrangements, Zelensky said.

The president added that Ukraine has reached an agreement with Denmark.

“For example, Denmark will set up production lines for long-range drones. They will provide additional funding for that — 100, 200, or 300 million. Long-range drones will be produced there and supplied to us during the war,” Zelensky said.

“This production line is a 50/50 partnership with the private sector. But after the war, they will stockpile drones for themselves — for their own army,” the president added.

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Kyiv has expanded drone production across all domains — air, land, and sea — with plans to manufacture 30,000 long-range drones in 2025.

Kyiv’s hybrid strike platforms — including the Palianytsia and Peklo missile-drones — have attracted global interest for their ability to deliver precision strikes over extended ranges.

On June 1, Ukraine carried out an unprecedented drone strike as part of Operation Spiderweb, targeting four Russian air bases deep inside the country with first-person view (FPV) drones.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine has secured funds for three Patriot missile defense systems and is in talks for seven more following a deal that allows the country’s European allies to purchase US military equipment and provide it to Kyiv.

Nearly two weeks after US President Donald Trump issued a 50-day ultimatum to Russia to reach a deal on the war or face severe tariffs while also announcing plans to supply Ukraine with more defensive weapons via Europe, Zelenskyy’s announcement is a sign that the plan is moving forward.

In comments to the press released on July 25, Zelenskyy confirmed that the United States will send more Patriot systems — proven effective in countering Russian ballistic missile attacks — to Ukraine.

“The US president will be transferring, selling these systems to us. Our task is to find funding for all 10 systems,” Zelenskyy said. “I have officially received confirmation from Germany for two systems, and from Norway for one. We are currently working with Dutch partners.”

Separately, Zelenskyy said that Washington and Kyiv had agreed on a deal worth between $10 billion and $30 billion for Ukraine to provide its drones to the United States.

Since taking office six months ago, Trump has sought to broker an end to the war in Ukraine.

Facing pushback from President Vladimir Putin — most notably the rejection of the US call for a cease-fire — he has now green-lit the flow of some weapons he had previously held back in a bid not to antagonize his Russian counterpart.

Earlier this week, after negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul on July 23 ended without major progress, Washington announced up to $322 million in military sales to Kyiv.

Two weapons systems which Ukraine already fields — the HAWK missile system and Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle — will be bolstered with additional equipment and support in the sale, according to a press release from the US Defense Department.

Meanwhile, Russian drone and missile strikes continued to pound Ukrainian cities — something Trump appeared to be particularly frustrated with while delivering his comments at the White House on July 14.

Early on July 25, Russian forces struck a hospital that treats tuberculosis patients in Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, leaving at least a dozen people injured, regional governor Oleh Synehubov said.

He added that a teenage girl was among the wounded.

“The roof of the third floor was struck… A common medical ward is located there,” Natalia Trokhlebova, the acting chief of the facility, told RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service.

“Fortunately, we have few patients now, and the third floor is closed,” she added.

The day before, Zelenskyy commented on the ongoing Russian strikes, suggesting that they are a response to Kyiv’s proposal of an immediate cease-fire, which its delegation had advocated in Istanbul.

Ukraine is preparing to sign a major deal with the US to supply drones. This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a conversation with journalists, responding to questions about defense exports.

According to him, preliminary agreements have already been reached: “We have agreed with America, with President Trump, that they will buy drones from us.”

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Zelensky said that he had instructed National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal, and adviser Oleksandr Kamyshin to prepare a large-scale contract worth approximately $10-30 billion.

At the same time, Ukraine is establishing drone production abroad. For example, an agreement has already been reached with Denmark to set up a production line on its territory. Some of the drones will be transferred to Ukraine during the war, and after the hostilities cease, they will replenish the arsenal of the Danish army.

Similar projects are also being discussed with Norway and Germany.