President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine expects financial support and access to technology in exchange for assisting Middle Eastern countries in defending against Iranian drone attacks.
Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian specialists had already been deployed to several countries in the Middle East to help strengthen their air defence systems against drones developed by Iran.
According to the Ukrainian leader, the teams each made up of dozens of experts were tasked with conducting technical assessments and demonstrating how to improve systems designed to counter drone threats.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine had sent teams to Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, while Ukrainian specialists also visited a United States military base in Jordan.
Gulf nations have recently used large numbers of air-defence missiles to intercept Iranian drones and have sought Ukraine’s experience in countering such threats.
Ukrainian forces regularly intercept Russian drones using a combination of air-defence systems, electronic jamming and smaller drones.
Zelenskyy noted that nearly a dozen countries around the world have approached Ukraine for assistance in tackling similar drone attacks.
The Ukrainian president emphasised that Kyiv’s role is limited to providing expertise rather than participating directly in military operations.
“This is not about being involved in operations. We are not at war with Iran,” Zelenskyy said. “This is about protection and a thorough assessment of how to counter the Shahed drones.”
The Shahed drone, developed by Iran, has been widely used in recent conflicts and has become a major concern for countries facing drone-based attacks.
Zelenskyy said discussions are ongoing about what Ukraine will receive in return for its assistance, noting that both financial resources and technological cooperation are crucial for Kyiv.
“Honestly, for us today, both the technology and the funding are important,” he said.
He also added that it remains unclear whether Ukraine and the United States will finalise a long-discussed agreement on drone cooperation.
