KYIV, Nov. 5 - Erik Prince, the controversial informal adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, is in talks to buy a Ukrainian aerospace company that the U.S. is trying to prevent China from buying, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Prince is the billionaire founder of the defense contractor formerly known as Blackwater.

The Journal reported the Trump administration approached him about the Motor Sich company, and Prince has since discussed the company with Ukrainian officials and visited its plant.