Trump drags feet on drone deal with Ukraine, mystifying experts

[240B]

Trump drags feet on drone deal with Ukraine, mystifying experts

The Hill
by Ellen Mitchell
06/07/26

The Trump administration’s hesitancy in signing a major drone deal with Ukraine is slowing the U.S. military down in an area where it’s already trying to play catch-up.

Even as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Washington to make a deal, with talks between the two nations stretching back to at least September, the U.S. has so far refused to embrace Kyiv as a partner in its drone development.

Zelensky posted a lengthy message to social platform X last Sunday calling for a “bilateral drone deal — a big framework document” between the U.S. and Ukraine, which has made astounding strides in drone warfare since Russia attacked the country in 2022.

But even with senior Pentagon officials including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll lauding Kyiv’s drone abilities, the Trump administration is still biding its time on taking full advantage of the Ukrainian capabilities, a delay that experts say is potentially kneecapping the U.S. military.

“I don’t know what the hangup would be in denying ourselves the ability to take advantage of that. I don’t think there’s any good reason,” Rebeccah Heinrichs, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute think tank, said of Ukraine’s drone capabilities.

“I don’t know if there is a hangup, I don’t know if there’s a different view between people about what the process needs to be, or what needs to come first, but clearly there is a great advantage on the U.S. side to partnering with Ukraine on drones,” she told The Hill.

(more)
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5911039-trump-drone-deal-ukraine/

[BobfromWB]

Trump drags feet on drone deal with Ukraine, mystifying experts

The Hill
by Ellen Mitchell
06/07/26

The Trump administration’s hesitancy in signing a major drone deal with Ukraine is slowing the U.S. military down in an area where it’s already trying to play catch-up.

Even as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Washington to make a deal, with talks between the two nations stretching back to at least September, the U.S. has so far refused to embrace Kyiv as a partner in its drone development.

Zelensky posted a lengthy message to social platform X last Sunday calling for a “bilateral drone deal — a big framework document” between the U.S. and Ukraine, which has made astounding strides in drone warfare since Russia attacked the country in 2022.

But even with senior Pentagon officials including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll lauding Kyiv’s drone abilities, the Trump administration is still biding its time on taking full advantage of the Ukrainian capabilities, a delay that experts say is potentially kneecapping the U.S. military.

“I don’t know what the hangup would be in denying ourselves the ability to take advantage of that. I don’t think there’s any good reason,” Rebeccah Heinrichs, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute think tank, said of Ukraine’s drone capabilities.

“I don’t know if there is a hangup, I don’t know if there’s a different view between people about what the process needs to be, or what needs to come first, but clearly there is a great advantage on the U.S. side to partnering with Ukraine on drones,” she told The Hill.

(more)
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5911039-trump-drone-deal-ukraine/

1. 47 hates Zelenski who insulted him by wearing funny clothes instead of the mandatory business suit.

2. Son Eric has a drone company and military contracts which would be hampered by combat proven and cheaper drones from the place where people wear funny clothes and insult others with their lack of fashion sense.

 QED

[Right_in_Virginia]

1. 47 hates Zelenski who insulted him by wearing funny clothes instead of the mandatory business suit.

2. Son Eric has a drone company and military contracts which would be hampered by combat proven and cheaper drones from the place where people wear funny clothes and insult others with their lack of fashion sense.

 QED

Could Trump simply want a better deal from a nation the US has spent almost $200 billion on in supplemental payments since 2022?

AI Overview

Congress has appropriated approximately $175 billion in supplemental funding for the Ukraine response, with broader U.S. government oversight trackers placing the total allocated figure at roughly $187 billion.The breakdown of how these funds are distributed includes:

° Military Assistance: Accounts for the majority of the direct aid, covering weapons, munitions, intelligence support, and training

° Economic & Budget Support: Helps keep the Ukrainian government functioning by paying the salaries of civil servants, healthcare workers, and educators.

° Humanitarian Aid: Includes food assistance, medical supplies, and shelter for displaced Ukrainians.

° U.S. Operations & Replenishment: A significant portion of this money is spent domestically to replenish the U.S. military's own defense stocks and to fund U.S. arms manufacturing facilities.

For detailed historical data, financial obligations, and interactive spending trackers, you can review the official Ukraine Oversight platform or check the Council on Foreign Relations analysis for regular updates.

[Cyber Liberty]

1. 47 hates Zelenski who insulted him by wearing funny clothes instead of the mandatory business suit.

2. Son Eric has a drone company and military contracts which would be hampered by combat proven and cheaper drones from the place where people wear funny clothes and insult others with their lack of fashion sense.

 QED

I think Zelinskyy and the entire Ukrainian government is corrupt from top to bottom.  No accusations of bribery by my sons required. 

[BobfromWB]

I think Zelinskyy and the entire Ukrainian government is corrupt from top to bottom.  No accusations of bribery by my sons required.

Ukraine is no where near as corrupt as Russia - further, Ukraine is trying to root out the corruption. Moreover, there is a an adage about bricks and glass houses - See US corruption, aka fraud.

Your sons are Eric and Jr??

[Cyber Liberty]

Ukraine is no where near as corrupt as Russia - further, Ukraine is trying to root out the corruption. Moreover, there is a an adage about bricks and glass houses - See US corruption, aka fraud.

That's a matter of opinion, and I don't share yours.  Ukraine's dalliance with Joe Biden is still fresh on my memory.

[libertybele]

I think Zelinskyy and the entire Ukrainian government is corrupt from top to bottom.  No accusations of bribery by my sons required.

Agreed! 

[libertybele]

Could Trump simply want a better deal from a nation the US has spent almost $200 billion on in supplemental payments since 2022?

I knew the price tag was high, but not that high!! That's a significant amount of $$.

[Kamaji]

I think Zelinskyy and the entire Ukrainian government is corrupt from top to bottom.  No accusations of bribery by my sons required. 

Prove it.