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Trump Rejects Zelenskyy’s Offer as Ukraine Proposes Drone Expertise for U.S. and Middle East

Trump Rejects Zelenskyy’s Offer as Ukraine Proposes Drone Expertise for U.S. and Middle East

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready to send drone warfare specialists to assist partners in the United States and the Middle East, highlighting Kyiv’s growing expertise in unmanned aerial systems after years of intense battlefield use.

Speaking during a recent briefing, Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine’s military and defense industry have developed advanced tactics and technologies involving UAVs. He suggested Ukrainian experts could help allied countries improve drone defense and battlefield integration.

However, former U.S. President Donald Trump quickly dismissed the idea. Trump said the United States does not require assistance from Ukraine and emphasized that the U.S. military already possesses some of the world’s most advanced drone capabilities.

“We don’t need help from Ukraine,” Trump said in comments that underscored his long-standing skepticism about expanding U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts.

Ukraine has become one of the world’s most active testing grounds for drone warfare, deploying thousands of UAVs for surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike missions during the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Military analysts say Ukrainian engineers and operators have rapidly adapted commercial drones into highly effective battlefield tools, creating innovations that have drawn attention from defense planners around the world.

Some experts believe Ukraine’s experience could offer valuable lessons to countries facing rising drone threats, particularly in volatile regions such as the Middle East.

Still, Trump’s response suggests that political divisions in Washington could shape how — or whether — such cooperation ever materializes.

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Iran Says It Has Launched More Than 4,000 Drones and Missiles in Retaliation Against the U.S. and Israel
Iran Says It Has Launched More Than 4,000 Drones and Missiles in Retaliation Against the U.S. and Israel Iran says it has launched more than 4,000 drones and missiles in retaliation against the United States and Israel, while insisting its missile stockpile remains far from depleted. An Iranian missile launch (Photo: Tasnim News Agency) Ali Mohammad Naeini, a spokesperson for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said Tehran has fired roughly 700 missiles and 3,600 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at U.S. and Israeli targets since the conflict erupted more than two weeks ago. “The missiles currently being used were produced a decade ago. Many of the missiles we have manufactured—from the 12-day war until the Ramadan conflict—have yet to be deployed,” Naeini said, referring to last year’s hostilities and the current fighting. The IRGC statement did not provide specifics on launch timelines, targeted locations, or the extent of damage inflicted. According to the IRGC, the strikes have focused on key Israeli infrastructure tied to the country’s military and defense industries, as well as concentrations of Israeli forces. Naeini said Iran’s armed forces possess detailed intelligence and are capable of striking any adversary target with precision. He outlined a broad target set, including “command centers, research and scientific facilities, defense ministries, military-industrial complexes, air bases, army headquarters, troop assembly sites, radar systems, ports, and energy infrastructure.” “If they approach our facilities, we will immediately target theirs,” he warned. The United States and Israel have been conducting a large-scale military campaign against Iran since Feb. 28. Airstrikes reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, along with several senior Iranian officials. U.S. and Israeli officials say the campaign has significantly degraded Iran’s missile capabilities and its nuclear development program. Both countries have signaled the conflict could continue for several more weeks. Iran has carried out retaliatory operations targeting Israeli positions as well as U.S. military bases and diplomatic facilities in the Gulf region. Tehran has indicated it is prepared for a prolonged conflict. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the country has neither sought a ceasefire nor proposed negotiations with Washington. “We have never requested a ceasefire and have not proposed negotiations. Iran is ready to defend itself for as long as necessary,” Araghchi said. The claims have not been independently verified. Earlier, Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, citing an IRGC statement, reported that Tehran carried out its 54th wave of retaliatory missile strikes against Israel on March 15 as part of “Operation True Promise 4.” According to the IRGC, the latest wave included launches of Khorramshahr heavy missiles, reportedly equipped with a 2-ton warhead, along with Khaybar-shekan, Qadr, and Emad missiles. The statement added that, for the first time in the campaign, Iran deployed the Sejjil solid-fuel strategic missile to target command and decision-making centers affecting Israel’s air operations.