října, 18 2025

When Volodymyr Zelensky, prezident Ukrajiny described a "mega‑deal" with Donald Trump, prezident USA on July 17, 2025, the news instantly lit up both Washington and Kyiv. The proposal, detailed in an interview with The New York Post, envisions the United States buying Ukrainian combat‑tested drones – some able to hit targets up to 1 300 km away – in exchange for a broad package of American weapons systems. Here's the thing: if it materialises, it could reshape the global arms market, loosen Ukraine’s tight export controls and give the U.S. a technological burst in long‑range unmanned warfare.

Historické pozadí dronové výroby na Ukrajině

Since Russia’s full‑scale invasion in 2022, Kyiv has turned its limited aerospace sector into a humming factory line. From modest hobby‑grade quadcopters to sophisticated strike platforms like the "Peklo" missile‑drone, Ukrainian engineers have learned – the hard way – how to produce cheap, rugged, and deadly UAVs. By the end of 2024 the Ministry of Defence reported the launch of more than 20 000 combat drones, a figure that is set to climb to 30 000 in 2025.

Operation SpiderwebRuská federace on June 1 demonstrated the reach of these systems: four Russian air bases deep inside Russian territory were struck by first‑person view drones, proving the technology can operate far beyond the frontline.

Detaily navrhované dohody mezi Zelenským a Trumpem

In the New York Post interview, Zelensky called the arrangement "really a mega deal, a win‑win". He argued that "the people of America need this technology, and you need to have it in your arsenal". The core of the proposal is simple: the U.S. would purchase battle‑tested Ukrainian drones, and in return Kyiv would receive a package of weapons ranging from advanced air‑defence missiles to artillery systems.

According to the same source, the drones on offer can strike at ranges of 1 300 km – a capability that currently outpaces most American UAVs, which are said to lag behind Russian and Chinese developments in this specific niche. The deal also contemplates joint production: Ukrainian drones could be assembled in American factories or sourced through European hubs and then shipped to the United States.

"We have started negotiations on a unique technology‑sharing agreement that would provide the US with access to Ukrainian breakthrough drone technologies," said Olga Stefanišová, ukrajinská velvyslankyně v USA. She added that the partnership would be strategically advantageous for both sides and a "real contribution to US and allied security globally".

Reakce z Washingtonu a ukrajinské průmyslové komunity

American officials have stayed tight‑lipped. A spokesperson for the Department of Defense declined to comment on the specific drone‑for‑weapons proposal, though a separate statement on July 6 announced an "agreement" between Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence and an "unnamed leading American company" to deliver "hundreds of thousands of drones" – including interceptor models – within the year.

The Ukrainian drone industry, which until now operated under strict export controls, greeted the news with cautious optimism. Many small firms have previously struggled to find foreign buyers due to the U.S. reluctance to source from non‑American manufacturers. "If this deal goes through, it could break two major geopolitical barriers at once – our export policy and the American defence sector's hesitance," noted a senior engineer at a Kyiv‑based UAV startup (who asked to remain anonymous).

From the U.S. side, the proposal aligns with President Trump’s draft FY 2026 defence budget, which places a heavy emphasis on drones and long‑range missiles while trimming conventional naval and aerial platforms, according to a Reuters analysis.

Dopad na bezpečnostní situaci a obranné rozpočty

Strategically, the exchange could tip the balance in several ways. For Ukraine, acquiring a steady flow of modern American weapons would blunt the relentless Russian attacks on critical infrastructure – especially the recent assaults on water and gas facilities. For the United States, integrating Ukrainian long‑range UAVs would fill a glaring gap in its ability to conduct deep‑strike missions without relying on costly satellite‑linked platforms.

Experts warn, however, that the technology transfer could provoke Moscow to accelerate its own counter‑UAV programmes, potentially sparking a new arms race in the sky. "We might see a rapid escalation in electronic warfare capabilities on both sides," said Dr. Jana Kovářová, a defence analyst at the University of Prague.

Financially, the deal could reshape procurement flows. Ukraine plans to produce 30 000 long‑range drones in 2025, each estimated at $150 000. If the U.S. were to purchase even a fraction – say 5 % – the transaction alone would amount to over $225 million, not counting the value of the weapons it would provide in return.

Budoucí kroky a očekávané scénáře

The next week promises intensive talks in Washington. Zelensky, who described his July 4 conversation with Trump as "the best and most productive in the history of communication between the leaders", hopes the personal rapport will translate into a formal written agreement.

Meanwhile, European allies – Denmark, Norway, and Germany – have been mentioned as potential secondary recipients of Ukrainian drone tech, hinting at a broader NATO‑wide collaboration.

Until a signed document surfaces, the "mega‑deal" remains a tantalising possibility. But the buzz around it is already nudging both capitals to rethink traditional procurement models, export policies, and the future of aerial warfare.

• Mega‑deal: proposed swap of Ukrainian drones for U.S. weapons.
• Key dates: interview published 17 July 2025; Operation Spiderweb 1 June 2025.
• Primary drones: strike range up to 1 300 km.
• U.S. defence budget 2026: heavy focus on UAVs.
• Potential production: 30 000 Ukrainian drones in 2025.