Zelensky drone production cooperation with the United States is moving ahead, with President Volodymyr Zelensky saying the effort includes plans for a factory on U.S. soil that would build unmanned aircraft using Ukrainian technology.
Zelensky says US and Ukraine moving forward on joint drone production
In an interview released Friday, Zelensky said Kyiv aims to quickly expand on an initial understanding with Washington covering drones. He said Ukraine’s drone technology is evolving rapidly, noting that some Ukrainian systems can now operate beyond 3,000 km, with even longer ranges in development.
Ukraine has leaned on drone innovation to offset Russia’s advantages during the four-year war, and officials say Kyiv has shared some of its advancements with partners. “Important technology. This is what we have. And America has great technology. Our drone deal is win-win,” Zelensky said in remarks posted on X, adding, “We will build a great factory in the United States. We want to have lines of production.”
In Washington, a person familiar with the discussions said terms are still being finalized ahead of Zelensky’s planned talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, according to a White House official. Separately, a source in Kyiv said Ukraine has agreed to export drones to the United States for the Pentagon’s Drone Dominance program. Six Ukrainian firms have received approval to ship about 100 drones each, the source said.
Russian aerial bomb kills five in eastern Ukraine
Five people were killed and nine injured in Sloviansk on Friday after a Russian aerial bomb strike, according to Regional Governor Vadym Filashkin. He later reported a separate evening strike on the city that wounded 16 and damaged residential buildings.
In Sumy region, which borders Russia, a Russian drone attack killed two people, Regional Governor Oleh Hryhorov said on Telegram. In Zaporizhzhia, a Russian strike ignited a shopping center and injured several people, the regional governor said.
Both Moscow and Kyiv deny targeting civilians since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. For many in the region, a series of escalating clashes including US-Iran fighting has reinforced fears of broader instability.
Russian missile strike kills 10 at Ukrainian defence event
A Russian ballistic missile attack north of Kyiv on Friday killed 10 and injured nearly 100 at the site of a defense industry event that Zelensky said should never have been held. Ukraine’s Emergency Services said rescue operations at the location had concluded and posted images of workers clearing debris near nearby houses.
“The cause of this attack is Russian missiles, nothing but Russian terror,” Zelensky said in his nightly address, while also criticizing the decision to host any weapons exhibition with large crowds during wartime, especially near residential areas. The event, organized by a drone manufacturers’ association, took place a short drive from the capital’s outskirts.
A General Staff spokesperson said the venue was outside its jurisdiction but stressed that any such gathering requires maximum security. Acting Kyiv region governor Ruslan Oliynyk declared a day of mourning on Saturday.
Zelensky’s new military chief wins widespread approval after surprise sacking
Following days of protests, Zelensky removed Commander-in-Chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi and appointed Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, 43, who is widely respected for his front-line record. Syrskyi, 60, had been credited with repelling Russia’s early push toward Kyiv in 2022 and leading a successful counteroffensive in Kharkiv region later that year.
However, he drew criticism from some Ukrainians for a perceived rigid command style and alleged indifference to troop losses. Drapatyi’s elevation has drawn broad support.
White House says Trump and Zelensky to meet in Washington next week
A White House official said Friday that Trump and Zelensky are scheduled to meet in Washington on Tuesday. A Ukrainian source said Zelensky hopes to travel to the United States, with his team awaiting final confirmation of Trump’s schedule.
He is also hoping to attend the funeral of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who died earlier this month. Earlier Friday, activist Laura Loomer said after interviewing Zelensky that he told her he would likely be in the United States next week for talks that include a meeting with Trump.
Zelensky reveals Trump relationship was saved in 20-minute conversation
Zelensky has said his relationship with Trump was salvaged during a 20-minute discussion. No further details were provided in the summary of his comments.
Trump ally Laura Loomer meets Zelensky in striking reversal on Ukraine war
Laura Loomer, a staunch Trump ally who for years minimized Russia’s invasion and circulated pro-Russian narratives to her large online following, met Zelensky in Kyiv on Thursday. She later posted on X about experiencing her first air raid in Ukraine, acknowledging that her previous comments were not considerate of Ukrainians living under regular alerts.
Zelensky meets with Ukraine’s armed forces to discuss challenges and objectives
Zelensky said he convened military and government leaders to review defense, economic and diplomatic priorities. He cited ongoing Russian attacks on infrastructure and challenges in energy, fuel, agriculture and grain exports.
He urged faster delivery on existing air defense projects and said Patriot interceptor missiles remain a top need, adding that partners should recognize their responsibilities in supporting Ukraine’s defense.
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says he’s in talks with a US company to jointly produce Patriot air defenses
Zelensky said he met in Kyiv with senior representatives of Raytheon, the U.S. manufacturer of the Patriot air defense system that Ukraine says it urgently needs to counter Russian ballistic missiles. The meeting followed Trump’s recent pledge to grant Ukraine a license to produce Patriots, a shift that coincides with warmer rhetoric toward Zelensky.
Loomer’s visit and comments were cited by Ukrainian officials as another sign of changing opinions in Washington. The Pentagon’s Defense Department has not publicly detailed how the proposed cooperation might be structured.
What happened in Romania?
Romania’s Defence Ministry said its forces shot down a Russian drone near Padina in Buzau county in the east of the country. Two Romanian F-16s and two Italian Eurofighter Typhoons based in Romania were scrambled after the drone was detected by radar at 9:30 a.m. local time, about 20 km east of Sulina on the Black Sea.
Debris fell in a wheat field without causing injuries or damage, the Buzau county prefect said. Romania, which borders Ukraine for about 650 km, has reported multiple Russian drone incursions since Moscow began striking Ukrainian Danube ports following the 2022 invasion.
Further details were published by the Romanian Ministry of National Defence, which has monitored cross-border military activity since the outbreak of the conflict.
