US rejected Ukraine's anti-drone offer months before Iran war, now seeks help: Report

ISTANBUL

The Trump administration turned down an offer from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last August to share technology for shooting down Iranian-made Shahed drones, a decision US officials now regard as one of their most costly tactical errors since the war with Iran began, Axios reported.

At a Aug. 18 White House meeting. Zelenskyy presented US President Donald Trump with a proposal for interceptor drones and the creation of "drone combat hubs" near American bases in the Middle East.

Trump asked his team to follow up, but nothing came of it, a Ukrainian official told Axios. Washington changed its approach after Iran's retaliatory strikes began after the US and Israel began attacking Iran. The counterstrikes by Iran exposed gaps in US air defenses. "If there's a tactical error or mistake we made leading up to this war, this was it," one official acknowledged.

Ukraine has since moved quickly to help. Zelenskyy confirmed Monday to The New York Times that Kyiv dispatched interceptor drones and a team of specialists to protect US military bases in Jordan following a formal American request Thursday. "Ukraine helps partners who help ensure our security," Zelenskyy wrote earlier on US social media company X.

The escalation in the Middle East flared when Israel and the US launched a joint attack on Iran on Feb. 28, to date reportedly killing more than 1,200 victims, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Gulf countries hosting US military assets.

Eight US service members have been killed since the campaign began.