Zelensky says US asked Ukraine to help defend Gulf states from Iranian drones
Ukraine has been asked by the United States to assist Gulf partners in defending against Iranian attack drones, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, and Kyiv is preparing to send equipment and specialists.
Zelensky told social media followers he has ordered the provision of necessary means and the deployment of Ukrainian experts to help protect military bases and civilian infrastructure in the region.
Any support from Kyiv will be conditional, he emphasized: Ukraine will not allow its own defence to be weakened and expects diplomatic returns for its assistance. The president suggested Kyiv could offer interceptor drones in exchange for more Patriot air-defence missiles from the US, to plug gaps in protection against Russian ballistic strikes at home.
Zelensky warned of heavy Patriot missile use in recent days—around 800 PAC-3 interceptors, he said—more than Ukraine has received since the full-scale invasion began, underscoring concerns about dwindling stocks.
Delegations from Gulf states including the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait have visited Kyiv for talks, and officials have asked Ukraine for both hardware and training to counter Shahed-style kamikaze drones. Ukraine has combat experience with these one-way drones after repeated strikes linked to Russian forces, and Kyiv says it can provide practical know-how as well as interceptors.
The head of Ukraine’s defence industry told the BBC the country could scale production of interceptor drones significantly—potentially up to 10,000 a month—but exports would require top-level political approval and would be complicated by training needs.
Zelensky framed the move as both a contribution to regional security and an opportunity to win diplomatic support, while warning that any assistance will be carefully managed so it does not undermine Ukraine’s own war effort. Analysts say the Middle East conflict risks distracting Western partners and straining air-defence supplies, with higher oil revenues potentially strengthening Russia’s war finances—issues Kyiv is trying to navigate as it offers help abroad.
Zelensky told social media followers he has ordered the provision of necessary means and the deployment of Ukrainian experts to help protect military bases and civilian infrastructure in the region.
Any support from Kyiv will be conditional, he emphasized: Ukraine will not allow its own defence to be weakened and expects diplomatic returns for its assistance. The president suggested Kyiv could offer interceptor drones in exchange for more Patriot air-defence missiles from the US, to plug gaps in protection against Russian ballistic strikes at home.
Zelensky warned of heavy Patriot missile use in recent days—around 800 PAC-3 interceptors, he said—more than Ukraine has received since the full-scale invasion began, underscoring concerns about dwindling stocks.
Delegations from Gulf states including the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait have visited Kyiv for talks, and officials have asked Ukraine for both hardware and training to counter Shahed-style kamikaze drones. Ukraine has combat experience with these one-way drones after repeated strikes linked to Russian forces, and Kyiv says it can provide practical know-how as well as interceptors.
The head of Ukraine’s defence industry told the BBC the country could scale production of interceptor drones significantly—potentially up to 10,000 a month—but exports would require top-level political approval and would be complicated by training needs.
Zelensky framed the move as both a contribution to regional security and an opportunity to win diplomatic support, while warning that any assistance will be carefully managed so it does not undermine Ukraine’s own war effort. Analysts say the Middle East conflict risks distracting Western partners and straining air-defence supplies, with higher oil revenues potentially strengthening Russia’s war finances—issues Kyiv is trying to navigate as it offers help abroad.
