Ukraine is actively negotiating the expansion of its Drone Deal program to include new regions, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicating that the Caucasus may be among them.
During a recent statement, Zelenskyy explained that the Drone Deal is a long-term initiative aimed at fostering cooperation between Ukraine and various countries across different continents. The program focuses on expertise and assistance in protecting critical civilian infrastructure from large-scale attacks.
According to the president, the initiative has already garnered significant interest from countries in the Middle East, where Ukraine has established foundational agreements that are expected to evolve into concrete contracts.
“We have reached agreements with key nations including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar for ten-year contracts,” he noted.
The Drone Deal encompasses not only the export of Ukrainian technologies but also joint production, the establishment of facilities abroad, and long-term investments in the drone sector.
Currently, Ukraine has received inquiries from eleven countries across the region. Zelenskyy remarked, “The requests come from eleven countries in total, including the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, and we are also looking slightly towards the Caucasus. I am not revealing all our cards yet, but there are some opportunities there.”
Additionally, the president highlighted Ukraine’s collaboration with European partners, noting a growing interest in Ukrainian technologies from other regions as well. He stated, “Europe is where we began our work, particularly with Germany, Norway, Italy, Sweden, and the Netherlands. We also maintain strong relations with the United Kingdom and France, and I am confident that developments will occur there as well. This forms our European cluster. The volume of our defense sector, which is predominantly comprised of the private sector, has increased significantly.”
The Drone Deal program was initially proposed to the United States as a means to enhance air defense capabilities, involving an exchange of Ukrainian drone defense technologies for American systems designed to counter ballistic missiles.
Ukraine's Drone Deal program is set to expand into new regions, including the Caucasus, as interest grows from various countries. The initiative aims to bolster defense capabilities through collaboration and technology exchange, particularly in the Middle East and Europe.