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... Even as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Washington to make a deal, with talks between the two nations stretching back to at least September, the U.S. has so far refused to embrace Kyiv as a partner in its drone development.

Zelensky posted a lengthy message to social platform X last Sunday calling for a "bilateral drone deal -- a big framework document" between the U.S. and Ukraine, which has made astounding strides in drone warfare since Russia attacked the country in 2022.

But even with senior Pentagon officials -- including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll -- lauding Kyiv's drone abilities, the Trump administration is still biding its time on taking full advantage of the Ukrainian capabilities, a delay that experts say is potentially kneecapping the U.S. military. ...