Trump rejects Ukraine’s offer to assist US with drone defence

The United States does not require Ukraine’s help in bolstering anti-drone defences amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East, US President Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News.

“No, we don't need [Ukraine’s] help in drone defence,” Trump told the network. “We know more about drones than anybody. We have the best drones in the world, actually.”

The remarks came as a notable rebuff of Kyiv’s offer to share its combat-tested experience and technology for countering Iranian-made strike drones with the US and other Middle Eastern nations.

Trump’s statement appears to contrast with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s earlier comments, in which he said Ukraine had agreed to assist Washington in protecting US military bases in Jordan. Zelenskyy also noted that more than ten countries had requested Ukrainian support, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, where Ukrainian experts have already been deployed.

Since last year, Ukraine has been offering to share its expertise in drone warfare—a key asset in its battlefield operations—with the US, in exchange for advanced anti-missile defences. However, the Trump administration reportedly dismissed the initial proposal last August during Zelenskyy’s visit to the White House.

Hostilities in the Middle East erupted after US and Israeli forces launched combined attacks against Iran on February 28, leading Tehran to fire waves of missiles and drones against countries across the region.

By Vafa Guliyeva