Ukraine to cooperate with United Arab Emirates and Qatar on defense

Ukraine Signs Defense Cooperation Agreements with Qatar, UAE Ukraine signed a defense cooperation agreement with Qatar on Saturday and another with the United Arab Emirates, as Kiev aims to leverage its expertise in drone destruction amid the Middle East conflict.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, who made a series of surprise visits to the region, had previously signed a cooperation pact with Saudi Arabia on Thursday. This comes as Gulf countries grapple with Iranian drones and missiles in retaliation for American-Israeli airstrikes against Iran since February 28.

Kiev deployed anti-drone experts to all three visited countries during this diplomatic tour.

“We are talking about a ten-year cooperation. We have already signed an agreement to this effect with Saudi Arabia, just sealed a similar deal with Qatar for the same duration, and will soon sign one with the Emirates,” stated the Ukrainian leader during an online press conference with journalists.

“Over the next decade, we will engage in co-production by establishing factories in both countries—with production lines in Ukraine as well as in these nations,” he added.

Meanwhile, Qatar’s defense ministry specified in a statement that the deal with Ukraine “includes cooperation in technological fields, joint investment development, and exchange of expertise in combating missiles and unmanned aerial systems.”

Since the start of the conflict, Ukrainian drone manufacturers have seen high demand from the Middle East, as Kiev has become a major hub for advanced drone production following the 2022 Russian invasion.

Ukraine has evidently altered the geopolitical landscape. Zelensky emphasized, “Certainly, no one else can help in this way today, with such expertise.”

– Billions for Exporters –

After meetings in Saudi Arabia, Zelensky met with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, expressing that both leaders “have agreed to collaborate in security and defense. Our teams will finalize the details.”

He later informed journalists that “strategic 10-year contracts” with three Middle Eastern countries represent “billions.”

“I won’t disclose the exact figure, but we are talking about billions, not millions—specifically billions for our exporters. Everyone will benefit, Ukraine will gain, we won’t lose because we will ensure our soldiers have enough,” Zelensky affirmed.

Ukraine touts its anti-drone defenses as the world’s best. The country has proposed exchanging its drone interceptors for anti-aircraft defense missiles, which are considerably more costly and used by Gulf states to take down Iranian drones.

Kiev claims it needs more of these missiles to counter Russia’s nearly daily missile strikes on Ukraine since early 2022.

During visits to the UAE and Qatar, Zelensky also met with Ukrainian anti-drone experts who are “working here to save lives.”

“Today, Ukraine not only needs help but is also ready to support those who support us,” he stated.

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