Ukrainian officials are in talks with wealthy Gulf countries, offering their hard-won expertise in countering drones used in Iranian attacks in exchange for funding vital to Kiev's defense industry.
American officials are also in talks with Ukrainians about sharing drone technology. And this may, at least temporarily, increase Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's influence in the White House.
In both cases, negotiations could provide Ukraine with much-needed help: money at a time when a promised EU loan of 90 billion euros (PLN 385 billion) has stalled due to a veto by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and American missile interceptors for Ukraine's Patriot air defense systems that will allow it to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles.
Both strands of talks were confirmed to POLITICO by two senior Ukrainian officials familiar with the matter, but no deal has yet been finalized.
— We see great interest in Ukrainian interceptor drones from many different countries, including the United States. This is understandable: Ukraine has created unique, battle-tested solutions regarding detecting, tracking and countering this type of threats on a large scale, in real conditions – a representative of the Ukrainian defense industry tells POLITICO, asking not to be named.
It adds that any decision on exports requires “coordination between governments and must be consistent with security considerations, export controls and broader strategic priorities.”
On Thursday, Volodmyr Zelensky wrote on X: “We have received a request from the United States for specific support in the field of protection against the Shahids in the Middle East region. I have issued an order to provide the necessary resources and the presence of Ukrainian specialists who can guarantee the required security. Ukraine helps partners who help ensure our security and protect the lives of our citizens. Glory to Ukraine!”
Over the past four years, since Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine has become a world leader in drone warfare.
Since the beginning of Russia's attack, Iran has provided Moscow with many thousands of its Shahid drones, which are packed with explosives and crash into Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure. Russia currently produces its own drones of this type and has significantly increased their capabilities as part of a technological arms race with Ukraine.
A Ukrainian soldier from the “Typhoon” unmanned systems unit of the National Guard of Ukraine in the Kharkiv region, February 27, 2026Chris McGrath/Getty Images/Getty Images
Currently, Iranian Shahid drones are attacking American bases and cities in the Persian Gulf, airports and oil and gas facilities.
In the early days of the war with Iran, the United States and its Gulf allies reportedly used anti-aircraft missiles — which can cost as much as several million dollars each — to shoot down Tehran's drones, which can be produced for just a few tens of thousands of dollars.
Facing the same threat and limited help from allies, Ukraine has gained experience in shooting down drones with anti-aircraft guns, truck-mounted machine guns, cheap missiles, and interceptor drones — high-speed aircraft that can catch up with and destroy the Shahids.
However, Ukraine still relies on its allies, especially the United States, for systems like Patriot to protect against ballistic missiles. Kyiv complained that shortage of interceptors made Ukrainian cities vulnerable during this year's cold winter.
“Smart move” by Zelensky
The United States and the Persian Gulf countries consume PAC-2 and advanced PAC-3 missiles used by Patriot systems in such huge quantities that Kiev is surprised by it. — Ukraine has not had so many missiles since the beginning of the war, the Ukrainian president said during a press conference on Thursday.
European officials warned this week that the biggest threat to Ukraine in the event of a drawn-out war with Iran would be a shortage of PAC-3 missiles.
However, offering his expertise on drones in the context of the threat from Iran, Zelensky can now convince the White House to sell more of these weapons to Ukraine.
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A person close to Trump's national security team admits Zelensky has a “slight short-term advantage” over the United States, which is asking for help on drone defense. He emphasizes that this is a “smart move” on the part of the Ukrainian leader, who, according to Trump and his administration, did not have much of an advantage in the ongoing negotiations conducted by the United States to end the Russian-Ukrainian war.
However, the person said Zelensky would have to keep his demands at a reasonable level. – He wants more Patriot missiles, so maybe he can get it [Stany Zjednoczone] to speed up the implementation of some requests, the interlocutor adds.
Trump himself said in an interview with POLITICO this week that Zelensky still doesn't have any “cards” to play. However, in an interview with Reuters, he suggested that he would accept “any help from any country.”
The Ukrainian defense industry is extremely overproductive, but it must be so because of the war with Russia. The industry has grown from an annual production capacity of $1 billion. (PLN 3,696 million) to USD 50 billion. (PLN 184 billion 810 million) and is able to produce much more than the government struggling with financial problems can buy. This opens the door to selling weapons abroad — something Kyiv was reluctant to do in a full-scale war.
Therefore, an initiative was created to encourage Ukraine's partners to pay for weapons produced in Ukraine, and the Persian Gulf countries may now be ready to join this program.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
