Zelenskyy offers interceptor drones to Middle Eastern countries under one condition
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has offered Persian Gulf countries Ukrainian interceptor drones. Ukraine will provide them under one condition, said the President during a briefing following a National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) meeting.
Read also: Zelenskyy offers Middle East help to take down Shahed drones under one condition
What Ukraine is offering and what it expects
Ukraine is ready to share its experience and interceptor drones with Middle Eastern countries - equipment used to defend against massive attacks. In return, it expects to receive PAC-3 missiles for the Patriot system, which Ukraine is urgently lacking.
Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine can share expertise, but not scarce weapons. According to him, Middle Eastern partners are genuinely interested in Ukraine’s experience in countering large-scale aerial attacks.
The condition is a ceasefire
Zelenskyy’s main condition is that Arab leaders reach an agreement with Putin on a ceasefire. The President noted that the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have strong economic ties with Russia and could use that influence.
"And if missiles are flying at us, well, with all due respect, we are here, and we will defend our state," Zelenskyy explained.
Why Middle Eastern countries are seeking help from Ukraine
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his country will involve Ukrainian experts to help Persian Gulf states intercept Iranian attack drones - Shahed drones. Zelenskyy responded that he has not yet received official requests from partners to deploy specialists.
As RBC-Ukraine reported, Zelenskyy reached an agreement with the UAE on protection against Iranian strikes. The leaders discussed how they could cooperate in this situation.
