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In response to a question about buying Ukraine's drones, President Donald Trump told Reuters Thursday, "I'll take any assistance from any country."

Newsweek has contacted the Department of Defense for comment via email.

The report followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky saying late Wednesday that various countries, including the U.S., have approached Ukraine for help in defending against the Iranian drones.

"We received a request from the United States for specific support in protection against (Iranian-designed) 'shaheds' in the Middle East region," Zelenskiy wrote in English on the X social media platform.

"I gave instructions to provide the necessary means and ensure the presence of Ukrainian specialists who can guarantee the required security."

Conventional Wisdom: Iran War Edition
Ukrainian-made interceptors offer a much cheaper alternative for defense against Iranian drone attacks than the U.S.-made Patriot missile systems.

They have been developed using Ukraine's experience during years of drone-heavy warfare with Russia, which has relied on Iranian-made Shaheds for aerial attacks.

The Ukrainian interceptors cost thousands of dollars each versus millions for a Patriot missile.

The drone problem offers Zelensky an opportunity to win the much-needed favor of President Trump, who is attempting to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

But it is also a question of necessity: Ukraine relies on the Patriot missile systems to defend its own skies from relentless Russian missile attacks, and the depletion of their supply due to the Iran war will make it harder for Kyiv to get hold of them.

Offering to solve the Iranian drone problem with a cheaper Ukrainian alternative preserves Patriot supplies.

It was an Iranian drone that hit a U.S. facility in Kuwait and killed several American military personnel, the first to die in the war.

The United Arab Emirates alone said Thursday it has intercepted more than 1,000 Iranian drones and nearly 200 missiles fired into its territory since the war began.

Zelensky said he has spoken in recent days with the leaders of the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait about possible cooperation on drones.

Russia has fired tens of thousands of Shaheds at Ukraine since it invaded its neighbor just over four years ago, launching a swarm of more than 800 drones and decoys in its biggest nighttime barrage.

Ukrainian assistance in countering Iranian drones will be provided only if it does not weaken Ukraine’s own defenses, and if it adds leverage to Kyiv’s diplomatic efforts to stop the Russian invasion, according to the Ukrainian leader.

“We help to defend from war those who help us, Ukraine, bring a just end to the war” with Russia, Zelensky said.

Ukraine has pioneered the development of cut-price drone killers that cost as little as $1,000, rewriting the air defense rule book and making other countries take notice.

European countries got a wake-up call last September on the changed nature of air defense when Poland scrambled multimillion-dollar military assets, including F-35 and F-16 fighter jets and Black Hawk helicopters, in response to airspace violations by cheap drones.

Ukrainian manufacturers have developed low-cost interceptor drones specifically designed to hunt and destroy Shaheds, and its rapidly expanding drone industry is producing excess capacity.

Zelensky announced earlier this year that Ukraine would begin exporting the battle-tested systems.

edogu:
In addition, US has also developed their own version of Saheed called LUCAS.

helinues:
Are they not the same who sold the weapons to Ukraine?

Have the Ukraine Russia war ended

Trump is purely a joke as USA president

Vilgax:
I'm not big on conspiracies or anything.

But can someone explain the "Jewish" agenda.

Cause tbvh for Trump (who campaigned on an anti-war policy) to start a conflict in the Middle East without the approval of Congress...

idk mehn.
an agenda must be agenda-ing.

fineboynl:
Ukraine tried all there best to put up a solid fight with russia. Half and quarter of Russia solders are dead or fly the country

WriteerNg:

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They stole Iranian technology.

Copycats.

MaziObinnaokija:
WE ARE AGAINST ANY TERRORISTS .

gaskiyamagana:
Libya returnee comment.
Fews days ago deads exchange between the two:
Russian returned 1,000 Ukrainian soldier corpses
Ukraine returned only 38 Russian soldier corpses.