Ex-Ukrainian defense chief offers US drone army in exchange for Patriot missiles
Photo: Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov (Getty Images)
Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov states his willingness to help the US create a drone army in exchange for the supply of interceptor missiles for the Patriot systems, according to the Financial Times.
What Fedorov proposed
According to Fedorov, he would be very happy to help the US build a drone army, especially in exchange for Patriot interceptors, which Ukraine needs to get through the winter.
He says he is ready to agree to such an exchange. Fedorov declines to comment on a possible meeting in Washington with representatives of the Trump administration.
New positions abroad
Commenting on his agreement to become an advisor to the Italian Minister of Defense, Fedorov states that he hopes to secure similar advisory positions in other partner countries, possibly in France and the US.
Defense technology fund
The former minister also speaks about plans to attract American investment into a defense technology fund, which is intended to rewrite history in the war against Russia by creating and managing companies that will develop new weapons.
Fedorov is in talks with a large number of potential investors—venture capitalists, private individuals, and American technology companies, though he does not disclose details about his role in managing the fund or any potential personal financial gain.
In his assessment, Russia is likely to drag out the war for another two to three years, and it is precisely this fund that should develop the most advanced solutions for the battlefield, while sharing the experience Ukraine has gained with investors.
The former Ukrainian defense minister has become an advisor to Italy's Defense Minister. He will help the country develop modern warfare technologies through joint projects in the fields of digitalization and defense tech. Meanwhile, Ukraine's new Defense Minister, Yevhen Khmara, has revealed the composition of his team at the Ministry of Defense and described the proposals he discussed with Fedorov himself.
Earlier, Fedorov also stated that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy himself must explain what he knew about the corruption situation within his inner circle. In addition, it was reported that Fedorov had received four offers to continue working on the president's team but turned them all down.
