President Volodymyr Zelensky said a “mega deal” is in the works with US President Donald Trump for the US to purchase Ukrainian drones in return for Kyiv to purchase US weaponry.

The proposed deal would see Ukraine selling battle-tested drones and technology – some capable of reaching deep inside Russia 1,800 kilometers (1,118 miles) from the Ukrainian border – in exchange for unspecified US weapons.

The New York Post, in its interview with Zelensky, reported on Thursday that the proposed deal was part of the recent discussions between Zelensky and Trump.

Zelensky said the deal would involve sharing Ukraine’s drone expertise with the US, drawing on lessons learned during Russia’s invasion.

“The people of America need this technology, and you need to have it in your arsenal,” Zelensky told the New York Post.

Zelensky called it a “win-win” situation.

“I think this is really a mega deal, a win-win, as they say,” he added.

Zelensky said Kyiv is also ready to share the lessons learned with its other Western allies.

“We will be ready to share this experience with America and other European partners,” he said, adding that Ukraine is also in talks with Denmark, Norway and Germany.

The update follows Trump’s latest U-turn on Ukraine by resuming weapons deliveries to Ukraine and issuing a 50-day ceasefire ultimatum to Moscow.

The news also came as the US sought to bolster its own drone forces, with its Ukraine Envoy Keith Kellogg urging the US to learn from Kyiv’s experience during his recent visit to a Ukrainian drone factory.

“I saw firsthand how Ukrainian-made drones are being built and developed. Incredible innovation, especially with drones. In this new age/type of war, they lead. Their speed of innovation and ability to recycle is impressive,” Kellogg wrote in his X update.

“Our defense industrial base should take notice and adapt.”

Separately a US arms maker unveiled its modular analog to the Iranian Shahed drones on Wednesday, known as LUCAS, which it said had undergone successful testing and is set to enter production soon.

Zelensky had also previously voiced a desire to purchase between $30 and $50 billion worth of US weapons in April after the Trump administration signaled a halt on weapons aid to Kyiv at the time.

The US purchase of Ukrainian drones under the latest proposed deal could also be a much-needed boost for Ukraine’s domestic drone industry.

In November 2024, industry representatives expressed frustration that government orders were insufficient to fill product lines, meaning that Ukraine had the means but not the funding to make the numbers of weapons it needs.

The situation persisted well into June 2025, according to a Business Insider report – even as Ukrainian drone production soared by 900%.