Ukraine receives 11 requests from countries seeking help against drones and missiles - Zelenskyy
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (photo: Getty Images)
Ukraine received 11 requests from countries neighboring Iran, the United States, and European countries. National Security and Defense Council, together with General Staff and Defense Forces, will determine how to respond to them without reducing Kyiv's ability to defend itself, according to a statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
He noted that today, March 9, he held a meeting of the staff, where destabilization caused by war in Iran and risks for global markets, countries of the region, and Ukraine's closest partners supporting Kyiv in the war were discussed.
"Problem is complex: all these events in the Middle East and the Gulf region directly affect Europe, and in particular Ukraine, other parts of the world, critically important supplies to Ukraine, security and well-being of our people," the president's statement says.
In addition, requests from states for security support from Ukraine were considered, in countering Shahed drones and other similar challenges.
Ukraine has already received 11 requests
"As of now, there are 11 requests from countries — neighbors of Iran, European states, and America. There is clear interest in the Ukrainian experience in protecting lives, relevant interceptors, electronic warfare systems, training," Zelenskyy said.
He stressed that Ukraine is ready to respond to requests from countries that help it defend its independence and protect the lives of Ukrainians. According to him, Kyiv has already responded to some requests with "specific decisions and support."
"National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, together with General Staff and Defense Forces, will determine which other requests to our state we can respond to positively — in a way that does not reduce our own ability to defend ourselves," Zelenskyy emphasized.
Priority for Ukraine, according to the president, is the absence of an advantage of the Iranian regime "over defenders of life."
"Ukraine has long offered partners to update and strengthen joint capabilities to protect life. We talked about joint defense against drones and missiles, and about destruction of corresponding production facilities of aggressor regimes — weapons production used, including now in strikes," he said.
According to Western media reports, the United States and Qatar are negotiating the purchase of Ukrainian interceptor drones to shoot down Iranian Shahed drones more cheaply.
Ukraine plans to send a group of military specialists to the Middle East to share practical experience in countering Iranian drones. These are fighters who have real experience destroying Shahed-type drones.
