Ukraine has concluded defense agreements with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, as President Volodymyr Zelensky visited these two countries amid escalating tensions in the region.
The Qatari Ministry of Defense has specified in a statement that Doha and Kyiv signed a defense cooperation agreement that includes the exchange of expertise in combating missiles and unmanned aerial systems.
“This is a 10-year partnership. We have already signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia, and we have just signed a similar 10-year agreement with Qatar,” Zelensky told journalists during an online press briefing.
“We will also sign a 10-year agreement with the United Arab Emirates. This will happen in the coming days.”
Zelensky had previously visited the United Arab Emirates and met with President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with both countries agreeing to cooperate on security and defense.
Amid the American-Israeli war against Iran that has resulted in over 2,000 deaths, disrupted global markets, and practically closed the Strait of Hormuz, Ukraine is offering its expertise in aerial defense and drone technology to countries in the region.
Zelensky hopes to gain support from Gulf countries in Ukraine’s war against Russia, as Western military aid faces new uncertainties and Kyiv struggles to find funds to cover its budget deficit and finance its arms production.
Over 200 Ukrainian military and security experts have been dispatched to advise Middle Eastern countries on how to intercept drone attacks, which have caused significant damage to energy infrastructure.
(Reporting by Olena Harmash and Jaidaa Taha, French version by Benjamin Mallet)
