The Wall Street Journal reports.A Ukrainian delegation led by Deputy Defense Minister Sergiy Boyev arrived in Washington this week to negotiate a landmark agreement with the Trump administration that would see Kyiv share its advanced drone technology with the U.S. in return for royalties or other financial arrangements, according to officials from both nations. The prospective deal, backed by President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, represents a significant shift in the security partnership between the two countries.For years, Ukraine has been on the receiving end of American military aid, most recently through a Trump administration program where the U.S. sells weapons to European countries that then donate them to Kyiv. Now, Ukraine would leverage its extensive battlefield experience in producing and deploying drones against Russian forces to benefit American defense capabilities.Talks between Ukrainian officials and their Pentagon and State Department counterparts began Tuesday and are expected to continue for several days. A U.S. government official said finalizing the detailed agreement, potentially worth billions of dollars, could take months.While American companies manufacture sophisticated drones, Ukraine has surged ahead in mass-producing inexpensive unmanned aerial vehicles that have proven devastatingly effective in combat. "It is just a reality that we need Ukrainian drone tech in the U.S.," said William McNulty, a partner at UA1, a U.S. venture-capital fund that has invested in eight Ukrainian defense companies.The deal carries political weight as Kyiv seeks to strengthen its relationship with Trump, whose support has fluctuated. Trump's growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin's continued attacks on Ukraine and rejection of peace negotiations has created new opportunities for U.S.-Ukrainian cooperation.The drone agreement is part of a broader package that includes a separate "megadeal" in which Ukraine hopes to purchase tens of billions of dollars in American arms, Zelenskyy announced Saturday. Ukraine is particularly interested in acquiring long-range missiles to enhance its strike capabilities against Russia.The potential agreement underscores how much U.S. industry stands to gain from Ukraine, which has pioneered new technologies, tactics, and the ability to rapidly adapt innovations for evolving battlefield conditions. Ukraine produced more than two million drones last year and can manufacture them for 20% to 30% of the cost of Western producers, according to McNulty.Officials are exploring several mechanisms for the technology transfer, including arrangements where Ukrainian companies provide drone technology and prototypes to American firms in exchange for royalties, Ukrainian subsidiaries producing drones in the U.S., or direct purchases of Ukrainian drones for the American military.However, challenges remain. The widespread use of Chinese components in Ukrainian drones poses a problem, as U.S. companies cannot use Chinese parts due to supply chain security requirements. Any agreement will need to facilitate access to technology from private Ukrainian drone companies—more than 300 operate in the country, according to the Ukrainian Council of Gunsmiths.American officials would benefit from a Ukrainian drone industry that Washington has quietly supported for years. After Ukraine's unsuccessful 2023 counteroffensive, then-national security adviser Jake Sullivan commissioned intelligence analyses that highlighted the importance of drone development for Ukrainian forces. The Biden administration subsequently allocated $1.5 billion to support Ukraine's UAV and missile programs."We believed it would be strategically impactful for Ukraine to possess a sustainable and massive supply of effective domestically produced drones," said David Shimer, who served as director for Ukraine policy on the National Security Council during the Biden administration. "Now we have an opportunity to learn from Ukraine's innovations ourselves."European nations have already moved to capitalize on Ukrainian drone expertise. The U.K. and Ukraine announced a technology-sharing deal in September, while Denmark signed an agreement earlier this year to help Ukrainian defense companies manufacture drones and weapons on Danish soil. European investors and companies are also pouring money into Ukrainian drone makers, recognizing the strategic value of battlefield-tested technology.