The Trump administration's reluctance to sign a comprehensive drone agreement with Ukraine is raising eyebrows among defense experts, who warn the delay is hampering the US military's ability to keep pace in modern warfare. Despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's repeated calls for a deal and talks that have been ongoing since at least September, Washington has yet to formalize a partnership with Kyiv on drone development.
Zelensky Pushes for Framework
Zelensky took to social media platform X last Sunday, urging the US to finalize a "bilateral drone deal — a big framework document." Ukraine has made remarkable advances in drone warfare since Russia's 2022 invasion, but the Trump administration has been slow to capitalize on these capabilities, even as senior Pentagon officials like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll have praised Kyiv's expertise.
Rebeccah Heinrichs, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, expressed confusion over the holdup. "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," she said, adding that the US stands to gain significantly from partnering with Ukraine on drones.
Michael O'Hanlon of the Brookings Institution echoed that sentiment, saying he was "mystified" by the lack of progress, especially since the US has already sent teams to Ukraine to study its battlefield innovations. He speculated that "White House politics and directives" might be to blame, given President Trump's unpredictable commitment to Ukraine.
Lethargy and Hostility?
A former official, speaking on condition of anonymity, offered a blunter assessment, calling the delay "lethargy" on the part of the Trump administration and citing "a certain amount of hostility towards Ukraine coming from the very top." The relationship between Trump and Zelensky has been tense, with Trump frequently characterizing Zelensky as an obstacle to peace with Russia and praising Russian President Vladimir Putin as "smart" and a "strong leader." In February 2025, Trump berated Zelensky in the Oval Office, and his administration has largely halted US military aid to Ukraine.
The former official noted that Trump and Zelensky had discussed a drone deal "in very positive ways" during their September meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, but follow-up has been minimal. "Those talks didn't suggest any substantial energy on the U.S. side," they said.
Zelensky: 'We Need President Trump to Say Yes'
In a recent interview with CBS's "Face the Nation," Zelensky revealed that Kyiv has agreed to allow the US to test and train with its drones, but the two sides have not signed "the big document." On X, he wrote, "I think this cooperation can be huge — the most powerful of its kind in the world. We need to negotiate, not just talk about it. Take the necessary steps and do it as quickly as possible. For this, we need President Trump to say yes." He added, "American companies have advanced AI technologies we don't have. In turn, we have many things they don't have, due to our extensive experience on the battlefield."
According to a Bloomberg report from May 19, a deal is reportedly in the works, with the US seeking access to Ukrainian drone technology and intellectual property rights as part of a proposed defense cooperation agreement. The Pentagon reportedly wants to test Ukrainian drones and electronic warfare systems for potential US purchase, and to gain access to technologies that could be replicated domestically.
Drone Race Urgency
The urgency of the drone race has been underscored by the war against Iran, which has used kamikaze drones against US allies in the Middle East. While most were intercepted, some evaded defenses, causing major damage and deaths, including six US troops killed in Kuwait in March by Iranian Shahed drones.
Phillips O'Brien, a professor of strategic studies at the University of St. Andrews, wrote on X, "The U.S. is putting its own troops in danger by not working as closely as possible with the Ukrainians on drone development. To stay close to Putin, Trump is showing once again how little he cares about US soldiers."
The Army referred questions to the Pentagon's press office, which declined to comment. As Trump faces growing GOP dissent and internal party rifts ahead of the midterms, his administration's handling of the Ukraine drone deal remains a point of contention, with critics arguing it prioritizes political considerations over national security.
