Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated his openness to dialogue with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding cooperation in countering Iranian drones. According to the head of state, the Israeli side initiated the proposal for such a conversation.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Ukraine and Israel Discuss Joint Actions Against Drones
In an interview with an Israeli publication, Zelensky reported that he received a request from Netanyahu to discuss joint steps in the fight against Iranian drones. The president emphasized his interest in dialogue, highlighting the mutual interest of both parties.
“He has what I need, and I have what he needs. So I am ready for this dialogue.”
Ukraine’s Ambassador to Israel, Yevhen Korniychuk, confirmed the receipt of the relevant request, adding that due to a tight schedule, a date for the conversation has not yet been agreed upon.
Escalation of the Situation Due to Threats from Iran
Amid negotiations between Ukraine and Israel, Iranian parliament representative Ebrahim Azizi stated that Ukraine, by providing drone support to Israel, has allegedly become a party to the war and can therefore be considered a “legitimate target” for Iran. In his address on social media platform X, Azizi referred to the UN Charter and claimed that by supporting Israel, Ukraine has become involved in a military conflict.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine noted that the Iranian regime has long supported aggression against Ukraine by supplying drones and technologies for attacks to Russia, thus considering the statements of Iranian officials absurd. At the same time, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry neither confirmed nor denied information about drone support for Israel.
Statements from Iranian officials come amid escalating conflict in the Middle East. The US and Israel continue to strike Iranian territory in response to attacks from Tehran, which targets not only Israel or American military facilities but also neighboring countries that the Iranian authorities consider allies of the US.
In early March, Zelensky announced that Ukraine is ready to assist Middle Eastern countries in defending against Iranian attacks by involving Ukrainian specialists to work on-site. He also noted that negotiations are already underway with countries in the region regarding such assistance.
According to Western media reports, several Middle Eastern countries, as well as the US, are interested in purchasing Ukrainian interceptor drones to counter Iranian “Shaheds.” Zelensky proposed a deal to regional partners: specialized drones in exchange for missiles for air defense systems.
The President of Ukraine reported that within the first weeks after the start of US and Israeli operations against Iran, Kyiv received 11 official requests for the supply of drones capable of repelling drone attacks. Such requests came from countries neighboring Iran, several European states, and the US itself.
At the same time, former US President Donald Trump publicly opposed assistance to Ukraine regarding defense against Iranian drones.