“We appreciate the support and stand with those who are ready to work with us for security,” Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post.
On March 10, Zelenskyy said Ukraine sent three teams of experts to the Middle East to help counter Iranian drones. The teams were first deployed to Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
The Kyiv Independent, citing a source in Ukraine’s defense industry, reported that a Saudi company is preparing a deal to buy Ukrainian interceptor drones. The source said Saudi Arabia and Ukraine are negotiating a large arms-supply agreement, and other people familiar with the talks told the outlet that substantial government-to-government contracts are being discussed.
On March 7, Zelenskyy spoke with Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Salman and discussed the security situation in the Middle East and the Persian
Gulf. “Ukrainians have been fighting [Iranian] Shahed drones for years, and
everyone recognizes that no other country in the world has that experience. We
are ready to help and expect our people will receive the necessary support.
Protecting life must be a shared priority, and it is very important to
coordinate for security in both Europe and the Middle East,” the president
said.