Ukraine is seeking financial investment and technology partnerships from Middle Eastern countries in exchange for sharing its battlefield experience in countering Iranian-designed Shahed drones, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said.
The initiative comes as several Gulf states face growing security concerns over Iranian drone attacks and are looking for effective counter-drone strategies.
Ukraine Sends Drone Defense Teams to the Middle East
Zelenskiy said Ukraine recently deployed three specialist teams to the Middle East to assess regional air defense capabilities and demonstrate methods for countering kamikaze drone attacks.
According to the Ukrainian president, the teams were sent to:
- Qatar
- The United Arab Emirates
- Saudi Arabia
- A U.S. military base in Jordan
Their mission was to provide technical assessments and demonstrate how integrated drone defense systems should operate.
“This is not about being involved in operations. We are not at war with Iran,” Zelenskiy said while speaking to reporters.
Kyiv Seeks Technology and Funding in Return
While Ukraine is willing to share its expertise, Zelenskiy emphasized that Kyiv expects meaningful returns from such cooperation.
“For us today, both the technology and the funding are important,” he said.
Ukraine has spent more than two years defending against large-scale Russian drone attacks, many of which rely on Iranian-designed Shahed loitering munitions.
As a result, Ukraine has developed practical countermeasures that combine several layers of defense.
Ukraine’s Multi-Layered Drone Defense Strategy
Ukraine’s counter-drone approach includes a mix of high-tech and low-cost solutions, such as:
- Air-defense missile systems
- Electronic jamming equipment
- Machine-gun and anti-aircraft units
- Smaller interceptor drones
These systems are used together to counter Russia’s nightly drone strikes across Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
Gulf countries have faced similar challenges, with large numbers of expensive air-defense missiles being used to intercept Iranian-supplied drones.
Ukraine’s experience using cheaper and more flexible counter-drone solutions has therefore attracted international interest.
Global Demand for Ukrainian Drone Expertise
Zelenskiy said multiple countries have approached Ukraine seeking advice on defending against drone attacks.
These include the United States as well as several countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
However, U.S. President Donald Trump has said that Washington does not require Ukrainian assistance in countering drones.
Proposed $35–50 Billion Drone Cooperation Deal
Zelenskiy also revealed that Ukraine had previously proposed a major drone cooperation agreement.
The potential deal, which Kyiv hoped would be worth between $35 billion and $50 billion, would have expanded cooperation on drone production and defense systems.
However, the Ukrainian president said it remains unclear whether such an agreement will ultimately be reached.
He also criticized unnamed Ukrainian companies and foreign governments for attempting to negotiate deals involving anti-drone equipment without official approval from Kyiv.
Middle East War Raises Concerns for Ukraine
The escalating conflict in the Middle East is also raising concerns in Kyiv about its own military supplies.
Ukraine relies heavily on Western-supplied air defense systems and missiles to defend its cities against Russian attacks.
Zelenskiy warned that a prolonged war in the Middle East could divert attention and resources away from Ukraine.
“We would very much not like the United States to step away from the issue of Ukraine because of the Middle East,” he said.
Peace Talks Delayed by Regional Conflict
The regional crisis has also disrupted diplomatic efforts related to the war in Ukraine.
A new round of peace talks involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States had been scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates.
However, the meeting was postponed after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran triggered a wider regional conflict.
Zelenskiy said Washington has proposed holding talks in the United States next week, but Russia has so far refused to confirm participation.
Battlefield Situation in Ukraine
Despite the diplomatic uncertainty, Zelenskiy said Ukrainian military leaders believe Russia’s anticipated spring offensive has already failed to achieve its objectives.
According to Kyiv’s assessment, Moscow had planned for the offensive to be fully underway by this stage but has struggled to make significant progress on the battlefield.
