Nearly seven months ago, Ukrainian officials tried to sell the U.S. their battle-proven technology for downing Iranian-made attack drones. They even made a PowerPoint presentation — obtained exclusively by Axios — showing how it could protect American forces and their allies in a Middle East war.
The Trump administration dismissed the Ukrainians, only to reverse course last week because of more-than-expected drone strikes from Iran.
Snubbing Ukraine's offer ranks as one of the biggest tactical miscalculations by the administration since the bombing of Iran began Feb. 28, two U.S. officials tell Axios.
Iran's inexpensive Shahed drones have been linked to the deaths of seven U.S. service members, and have cost the U.S. and its friends in the region millions of dollars to intercept.
"If there's a tactical error or a mistake we made leading up to this [war in Iran], this was it," a U.S. official acknowledged.
At a closed-door White House meeting on Aug. 18, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered the interceptor drones to President Trump as a way to strengthen ties and, according to one official, show his thanks for U.S. support in the face of Russian aggression.
The Ukrainians made a PowerPoint presentation to U.S. officials that displayed a map of the Middle East and had this prophetic warning: "Iran is improving its Shahed one-way-attack drone design."
The presentation included the idea of creating "drone combat hubs" in Turkey, Jordan and the Persian Gulf states, where U.S. bases are located, to address the threat from Iran and its proxies.
"We wanted to build the 'drone walls' and all the things necessary like the radar, et cetera," a Ukrainian official said.
"At that meeting … in August, Trump asked his team to work on it, but they have done nothing," the Ukrainian official said.
A U.S. official who saw the PowerPoint confirmed that Zelensky's team showed the presentation to the administration and theorized the Ukrainian leader is seen by some in the Trump administration as too much of a self-promoter of a client state that doesn't command enough respect.
"We figured it was Zelensky being Zelensky. Somebody decided not to buy it," the official said.
On Thursday, the U.S. formally asked Zelensky for anti-drone help, according to The New York Times.
"Iranian retaliatory attacks are down by 90% because their ballistic missile capabilities are being totally demolished," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said.
"This characterization made by these cowardly unnamed sources is not accurate and proves that they are simply outside looking in. [Defense] Secretary [Pete] Hegseth and the armed forces did an incredible job planning for all possible responses by the Iranian regime, and the undisputed success of Operation Epic Fury speaks for itself."
U.S. officials have reported shooting down the overwhelming majority of Iranian missiles and drones. So far, they say, the seven U.S. deaths have been well below initial estimates of 40 fatalities for the opening of the conflict.
On Friday, the U.S. announced plans to deploy its own Shahed-killing drone system, called Merops, amid complaints from regional allies about the attacks.
One U.S. official told the Associated Press that the response to Iran's drones has so far been "disappointing."
Another U.S. official acknowledged the Ukrainian drones would have helped if deployed sooner, but added that "our performance in theater has been remarkable."
Posted by John3262005
1 Comment
The amount of disrespect that Zelensky and Ukraine get from the Trump administration is utterly disturbing and sad
*A U.S. official who saw the PowerPoint confirmed that Zelensky’s team showed the presentation to the administration and theorized the Ukrainian leader is seen by some in the Trump administration as too much of a self-promoter of a client state that doesn’t command enough respect.*
What??? Someone in the Trump administration thinks Zelensky is too much of a self promoter?
Projection much???
Anyway, *U.S. officials have reported shooting down the overwhelming majority of Iranian missiles and drones. So far, they say, the seven U.S. deaths have been well below initial estimates of 40 fatalities for the opening of the conflict.*
I mean, it doesn’t help that the first six American deaths died in an trailer. I think it was unprotected or at least appeared to be from the articles. Wonder if they were moved to a proper area, the deaths could have been lower.
I suppose we will see if the Iran war will be over soon or we will wait some more