US President Donald Trump is showing growing interest in Ukraine’s drone industry as Washington looks for new ways to counter Iranian-made drones targeting American forces and allies in West Asia, according to administration officials who spoke to the Wall Street Joiurnal (WSJ).
The apparent shift marks a change in Trump’s approach towards Ukraine after months of privately expressing doubts about Kyiv’s ability to sustain its war against Russia.
Officials said Trump’s evolving view followed several meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during recent international summits, where the two leaders discussed the battlefield and Ukraine’s military innovations.
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According to the WSJ report, Trump has been impressed by Ukraine’s ability to carry out long-range drone strikes inside Russian territory and develop low-cost technologies that have proved effective during the conflict.
One senior administration official said Trump’s view had changed as he increasingly saw Ukraine’s battlefield resilience as a strategic advantage.
Ukraine’s experience against Iranian drones
A major factor behind Trump’s interest is Ukraine’s experience in countering Iranian-made Shahed drones, which Tehran has supplied to Russia and which are similar to the unmanned aerial vehicles currently threatening US troops, military bases and commercial shipping in West Asia.
For more than two years, Ukrainian forces have regularly intercepted, jammed and destroyed Shahed drones, giving them extensive operational experience in defending against Iranian drone technology.
US military planners are studying Ukraine’s methods as they seek more cost-effective ways to counter drone attacks, especially as the Pentagon faces growing demand for air defence systems across multiple regions.
Officials said Trump has been particularly impressed by Ukraine’s ability to build affordable drone systems and anti-drone technologies at scale despite limited resources.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADDefence cooperation under discussion
Ukraine has rapidly expanded its drone manufacturing industry during the war, with officials projecting annual production of between six and seven million drones.
That growth has prompted discussions between Washington and Kyiv on expanding defence cooperation.
According to President Zelenskyy, the two countries are exploring the possibility of setting up a US-based factory to manufacture advanced drones using Ukrainian technology. The Pentagon is also considering allowing Ukrainian defence companies to export equipment directly to the United States under its Drone Dominance programme.
Aid delays amid changing priorities
The growing interest in drone cooperation comes even as the Trump administration recently informed Congress that it would delay final deliveries under a $400 million military aid package for Ukraine.
The decision drew criticism from Democrats and some Republican lawmakers, who warned that Ukraine continues to face shortages of conventional weapons.
However, European officials believe Trump’s interest in Ukraine’s defence technology represents an important shift. Diplomats have argued that Ukraine should be viewed not only as a recipient of military assistance but also as a valuable partner whose battlefield innovations could strengthen US national security.
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With Zelenskyy in Washington this week after attending the
funeral of late Senator Lindsey Graham, officials said discussions between the two leaders have increasingly focused on joint drone production and expanding cooperation on counter-drone technology.