The Next Phase: Ukraine to Negotiate Long-Range Arms Deal in Washington

Ukraine is entering the next phase of its military development by dispatching a delegation to Washington to negotiate the purchase of long-range weapons, a capability President Volodymyr Zelensky deems essential. The upcoming talks, scheduled for late September or early October, are the direct result of a high-level agreement between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump.
These negotiations will focus on the “practical implementation” of the deal, moving beyond the political agreement to concrete details like system specifications, costs, and delivery timelines. This push for advanced strike capabilities represents a significant step up from the current support framework, which already totals some $90 billion.
For months, Ukraine has used its own drones for deep strikes, but the acquisition of purpose-built American missile systems would provide a qualitative leap in power and precision. The ability to reliably hit high-value targets far behind the front lines is seen in Kyiv as a key to changing the war’s trajectory.
The Washington talks will also include a novel agenda item: a potential US purchase of Ukrainian drones. Zelensky confirmed that joint technical teams will work on this, signaling a new level of respect for Ukraine’s defense innovation and creating a more balanced technological partnership.
This forward-looking agenda is backed by ongoing efforts to strengthen current defenses. The recent arrival of a US-made Patriot air defense system from Israel, with two more expected, ensures Ukraine’s security is being enhanced in the present, even as it negotiates for the tools of the future.