(WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA) – United States President Donald Trump has stated that the American military does not require assistance from Ukraine to intercept unmanned aerial vehicles in the Middle East. During a telephone interview with NBC News on 15 March 2026, the US leader dismissed proposals for cooperation following an earlier offer from Kyiv to assist American forces and their regional allies.
The report follows a gesture made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in early March to provide technical expertise and personnel to counter Iranian drones. The Ukrainian proposal aimed to utilise the extensive experience of its military in neutralizing similar hardware deployed by the Russian dictator during the invasion of Ukraine. Responding to the offer, the head of the White House remarked that Ukraine was the last person from whom the United States would seek help.
When questioned regarding international criticism over the potential lifting of sanctions against Moscow, the US President declined to provide a direct response. He instead shifted his focus to the Ukrainian leadership, expressing surprise that a settlement had not yet been reached with the Kremlin.
He urged the Ukrainian President to negotiate a deal, asserting that the Russian dictator was prepared to reach an agreement. He further remarked that concluding a deal with the Ukrainian government appeared to be a more difficult task than negotiating with Moscow.
These comments come despite reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested discussions with Kyiv to explore cooperation on intercepting Iranian drones within the Middle East sector.
