Ukraine's former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov is seeking US investment for a defence technology fund he hopes will write a "new history" of the war against Russia by building and managing companies to develop new weapons. In an interview with the FT in Washington, Fedorov, who was sacked by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last month, also said he would be happy to help the US "build an army of drones" in exchange for American supplies of Patriot missile interceptors to help Ukraine in coming months.

Fedorov is seeking backing for the proposed fund from venture capitalists, private investors and US tech companies and said he was in discussion with "a large number" of prospective investors interested in Ukrainian innovation. "This isn't exactly a classic venture fund," Fedorov said. "We're writing a new history of the war." The vehicle would use western capital to develop technologies critical to Ukraine's ability to resist Russia's ongoing invasion.

He identified three initial priorities: battlefield robotics, cheap high-speed interceptor drones, and low-cost AI-enabled missiles. Fedorov, 35, was Ukraine's youngest-ever defence minister until his ousting sparked weeks of protest across the country and thrust Zelenskyy into the deepest political crisis of his presidency.

Fedorov said helping Italy's military innovate could open new doors for co-operation. He said he would be "very glad to help America build an army of drones — especially in exchange for Patriot [interceptors] so that we survive this winter."