Trump turns to THIS war-torn ally to solve the 'Shahed' drone crisis as Iran ramps up attacks
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "Trump turns to THIS war-torn ally to solve the 'Shahed' drone crisis as Iran ramps up attacks")
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) looks on during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and members of his Cabinet at the White House on October 17, 2025, in Washington, DC. Photograph: (AFP)
Who is the US turning to for help in the war with Iran? Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Washington has asked Kyiv for expertise in countering Iran’s Shahed drones, a threat Ukraine has faced for years.
What exactly is the US seeking and why now? Scroll down to read more.
US President Donald Trump is apparently asking a war-ravaged nation for help in his and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's surprise attack on Iran. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday (Mar 4) revealed that the US has asked for Kyiv's "help in defending against Shahed drones". Notably, Ukraine for the last four years has been engaged in a war with its neighbour, Russia. What is Trump asking of Ukraine? Here's what we know.
US turns to Ukraine for help
Zelensky, in his nightly address on Wednesday, revealed that America and its allies are asking Ukraine for help in defending themselves against the Iranian threat.
"Partners are turning to us, to Ukraine, asking for help in defending against Shahed drones, with expertise and real operational experience," he said. Singling out the US, he noted, "There have also been requests from the American side".
On X, Zelensky confirmed that US has asked Ukraine for help. “They are seeking our expertise. We are open. If their representatives come, we will provide the expertise. Especially since there is also a request from Europeans and from the United States,” he wrote.
This comes as multiple military experts flagged the many risks America faces in this war in the Middle East. On one hand, James Alexander "Sandy" Winnefeld Jr., the former vice-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned that the US could run out of interceptor stocks in "a matter of days". On the other hand, during a closed-door briefing on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, top military officials led by the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen Dan Caine, told lawmakers that while US defences can destroy most of Iran's drones, stopping every single drone may not be possible for the US military.
Trump-Zelensky: Enemies to friends
The POTUS, since his comeback to the White House, has sparred with the Ukrainian president multiple times. In February 2025, Trump made the headlines for poking fun at Zelensky's clothes and complaining about him not wearing a suit to the Oval Office. "Ooh, you're all dressed up. He's all dressed up today!" Trump said at the time.
In later months, he even labelled Zelensky a "dictator" and blamed Kyiv for "millions" of deaths during the Russia-Ukraine war.
Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.
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