President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the importance of ensuring real security through means that have already proven effective during the war. He stated this in his address to the Parliament of the United Kingdom on March 17.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Involvement of Ukrainian Military Specialists in Protecting Middle Eastern Countries
In his speech, Zelensky reported that currently, 201 Ukrainian drone countermeasure experts are in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, with another 34 specialists ready to join the mission. Ukrainian teams are already operating in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, and will soon head to Kuwait. According to the president, Ukraine has already made relevant agreements with several other countries in the region.
“Currently, there are 201 Ukrainians in the Middle East and Persian Gulf region. Another 34 are ready for deployment. These are military experts who know how to defend and how to assist against ‘Shahed’ drones. Our teams are already in the Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and are heading to Kuwait. We are cooperating with several other countries – agreements have already been made. We do not want this Iranian regime’s terror against its neighbors to succeed,” said Zelensky.
The president clarified that Ukraine sent its military experts to the Middle East at the request of partners, including the United States. He described this as part of the agreements regarding drones that Ukraine proposed to the U.S. and which remain a subject of negotiations.
International Cooperation in Drone Countermeasures
Zelensky stressed Ukraine’s readiness to cooperate with all reliable partners in the fight against drones – from practical experience sharing to the creation of future defense alliances. He noted that Ukrainian expertise is unique and important for the security of various countries.
At the same time, according to the president, U.S. President Donald Trump once again rejected the idea of receiving assistance from Ukraine in countering Iranian drones on March 15, stating that Washington “does not need help,” and emphasizing that “the last person we need help from is Zelensky.”
At the beginning of March, Zelensky had already stated that Ukrainian specialists would help Middle Eastern countries defend against attacks from Iran. According to the Financial Times, the U.S. and an unnamed Persian Gulf country are interested in acquiring Ukrainian interceptor drones. In contrast, Iran has labeled Ukraine a “legitimate target.”