State-owned Motor Sich is Ukraine's main manufacturer of aircraft and helicopter engines, including for some of the world's largest cargo planes. Many legacy Ukrainian defense companies will trigger "red flags" during the lengthy due diligence and compliance reviews conducted by Western defense companies, said one U.S. defense executive. A Motor Sich representative stopped by ITA's booth and spoke briefly about their company's capabilities, the spokesperson said. ROOTING OUT CORRUPTIONZelenskiy has made rebuilding Ukraine's defense and aerospace sector a top priority, which includes deeper investment in drone technology. While the talks in Washington later this week and last month's Dubai air-show contacts are potentially promising, the political realities that Western defense officials are grappling with could hinder any progress.

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Persons: Gleb Garanich, Olexiy Nikiforov, Lockheed Martin, Pavlo Verkhniatsky, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Korzh, Trump, Nikiforov, RTX, Northrop, Valerie Insinna, Joanna Plucinska, Tim Hepher, Jo Mason, Jane Merriman Organizations: Motor Sich, REUTERS, State, Sich, Reuters, Lockheed, White, U.S, Western, U.S . Department of Commerce, Dubai Air Show, Commerce Department's International Trade Administration, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Republicans, Ukraine –, Thomson Locations: Ukrainian, Kyiv, Ukraine, WASHINGTON, Russia, China, Washington, U.S, Moscow, Zaporizhzhia, Dubai, Gaza, London