An instructor from the Ukrainian company General Cherry demonstrates the operation of an anti-air interceptor drone designed to destroy Russian attack drones in Kyiv region, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)2026-03-12T10:34:22Z KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Ukraine is awaiting White House approval for a major drone production agreement proposed by Kyiv last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday, as countries scramble to modernize their air defenses after the Iran war exposed shortcomings.The proposed U.S.-Ukraine deal would cover various types of drones and air defenses that operate as a single system capable of protecting against swarms of hundreds or even thousands of Iranian-designed Shahed drones and missiles, Zelenskyy said in a message on social media.We have not yet had the opportunity to sign this document, he said.Russia has fired tens of thousands of Iranian-designed Shahed drones at Ukraine since it invaded its neighbor just over four years ago. It launched a swarm of more than 800 drones and decoys in its biggest nighttime barrage. Iran has responded to joint U.S.-Israeli strikes by firing the same type of drones at targets in the Middle East. Ukraine has pioneered the development of cut-price drone killers, some of which cost a few thousand dollars, that have rewritten the air defense rule book. The conflict unfolding in the Middle East might prompt American officials to sign the drone production proposal, Zelenskyy said.Ukraine is keen to lock in future foreign support for its ongoing effort to thwart Russias invasion, and drone production agreements could bring Kyiv some diplomatic leverage in negotiations with Moscow. U.S.-mediated talks seeking to stop Europes biggest conflict since World War II are on hold due to the Iran war. Zelenskyy arrived in NATO member Romania on Thursday, a day before he visits French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, as new research indicated Russian oil revenue that helps drive its invasion of Ukraine has risen since the Iran war began.Russias daily revenue from oil sales during the Middle East conflict, which has brought a sharp increase in the price of crude, has been on average 14% higher than in February, according to the nonprofit Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. Oil revenue is crucial for Moscows war effort. Macrons office said his talks with the Ukrainian leader will focus on efforts to counter Russias so-called shadow fleet of tankers that are shipping oil in violation of international sanctions but are hard to stop.Zelenskyy was to meet in Bucharest with Romanian President Nicuor Dan, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and visit a training center for Ukraines F-16 pilots.Ukraine has exported a significant amount of its grain through Romania during the war, and Bucharest has provided energy support to Kyiv as Moscows forces blast Ukraines power grid.___Associated Press writer Samuel Petrequin in Paris contributed to this story.___Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine HANNA ARHIROVA Arhirova is an Associated Press reporter covering Ukraine. She is based in Kyiv. twitter instagram mailto