Ukraine to receive financial and technological aid from Middle Eastern countries

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that three teams of military experts were sent to Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and a US military base in Jordan to assess drone defense capabilities. The teams’ primary objective was to demonstrate how drone defenses work, as countries in the region continue to be targeted by Iranian drones.

Zelenskyy clarified that Ukraine’s involvement is not related to operations against Iran, but rather to share expertise on defending against Iranian drones. He stated that Ukraine has been sharing its knowledge on downing Shahed-136 “suicide” drones with other countries, including the use of cheap drone interceptors and electronic jamming tools.

The Ukrainian leader expressed interest in negotiating long-term drone deals with Gulf countries, but emphasized that the terms of these agreements are still to be determined. He mentioned that Ukraine is seeking funding and technology as part of any potential agreement.

In a separate context, Zelenskyy raised concerns about the potential impact of the ongoing war in the Middle East on Ukraine’s supplies of air defense missiles. He noted that Ukraine has been pushing for the US to sign a drone agreement worth $35 billion to $50 billion, but expressed uncertainty over why this deal has not been finalized.

Additionally, Zelenskyy highlighted the need to tighten Ukraine’s rules for purchasing drones, citing instances where foreign governments and companies have attempted to bypass the Ukrainian state to acquire equipment. He emphasized that any future agreements must be negotiated through official channels with the Ukrainian government.

Source: Al Jazeera