Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that his tour of several Middle Eastern countries was a success and that several security cooperation agreements had already been concluded or were being negotiated, according to Reuters.
Zelenskiy began this tour to offer Ukraine expertise in countering drone attacks launched by Iran in the context of the conflict with the United States and Israel, which has expanded in the Middle East region.
He touted the expertise gained by Ukraine during its four-year war with Russia, a conflict in which Moscow has consistently used Iranian-made drones to strike Ukrainian territory since the February 2022 invasion.
In his evening video speech after returning to Kiev, President Volodymyr Zelensky said “historic” security deals had been concluded with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
According to him, Ukraine also collaborates with Jordan and Kuwait, and two other states, Bahrain and Oman, have expressed their interest.
“For Ukraine, it's not just about prestige and respect for our people,” Zelensky said.
“It is a very concrete and practical matter. We are exporting our defense system, the skills of our military and the knowledge that our state has accumulated.”
He said Ukraine expects “appropriate security cooperation,” which includes discussions on air defense, the development of weapons production and energy cooperation.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy stressed that arms sales must be decided at the government level, warning companies not to negotiate directly with potential customers.
During the tour, the president said he also discussed diesel supplies from the region, which are critical to Ukraine's defense needs and the agricultural sector.
In his message, Zelensky said he found “a lot of respect” for Ukraine in the Middle East and a “common vision” among states in the region to work with Ukrainian experts.
“Security and restoring stability are the top priorities for everyone,” he said.
