U.S. and Ukraine partner on drones and Trump announces Hamas deal: Morning Rundown

Morning RundownU.S. and Ukraine partner on drones and Trump announces Hamas deal: Morning RundownPlus, Trump threatens to withdraw Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination until two Republican holdouts leave office.Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00ShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJuly 31, 2026, 7:00 AM EDTBy Elizabeth Robinson and Daniela SuarezThe U.S. is turning to Ukraine for help with drone technology. Trump threatens to pull his AG nomination until two GOP holdouts leave office. And why the job market is especially difficult for new college graduates.Here’s what to know today.U.S. turns to war-weary Ukraine for help with drone technologyA Ukrainian soldier prepares to launch a drone interceptor in the Donetsk region on Jan. 22.Tetiana Dzhafarova / AFP via Getty Images fileThe U.S., which has the world’s most expensive and powerful military, is leaning on Ukraine, the world’s scrappiest fighting force, for combat drone technology.This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox.Last week, the two countries signed an agreement allowing Ukrainian-made weaponry to be sent to the U.S. for military testing and evaluation, Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Olga Stefanishyna and a senior administration official confirmed to NBC News.It’s a remarkable turnaround after a contentious Oval Office meeting in February 2025 between President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy, when Trump cut off military assistance for Ukraine and said it had to pay for all previous U.S. aid.Now, Ukraine has emerged as a global leader in drones, an agile and inexpensive weapon it has used to push back Russia during its yearslong war.The partnership also reflects the growing munitions shortage facing the U.S. as the war in Iran enters its sixth month and fighting continues.A closer look at the behind-the-scenes negotiations. Israel’s support in Trump’s Hamas peace plan is uncertainPalestinian members...