The Ukraine has agreed to provide the complete range of its air defense system against Iranian drones to Gulf states. President Volodymyr Zelensky made this announcement while returning from visits to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Jordan.
“It’s not just about interceptors, but also about defense lines, software, electronic warfare systems, etc. In other words, we are taking a systemic approach,” stated Mr. Zelensky.
He also confirmed that Ukrainian maritime drones were part of the agreements with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. Ukrainian naval drone fleet has grown in recent years, with drones like Magura-V5 being used effectively against Russian military sites and ships in the Black Sea.
Furthermore, Ukraine is willing to share its expertise on maritime commercial route blockades with naval drones. The European Union Special Envoy in the Gulf region, Luigi Di Maio, mentioned that the EU advocates for using the Russia-Ukraine wheat export agreement through the Black Sea as a diplomatic model to resolve the issue in the Strait of Hormuz.
Initially signed in summer 2022, the Black Sea wheat agreement between Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and the UN allowed safe wheat exports from Ukrainian ports to global markets, reducing food prices worldwide. However, the initiative ended after Russia withdrew, considering any ship heading to Ukraine a potential military target, prompting Ukraine to establish new export routes.
President Zelensky addressed this issue during his Gulf visit, emphasizing US support and Ukraine’s willingness to assist partners. The agreements with Gulf states provide Ukraine the opportunity to expand its global arms exports and upgrade its defense industry, focusing on defense against Russian ballistic missiles.
Zelensky stressed the importance of these decade-long contracts, highlighting the significance of responsible arms exports not compromising Ukraine’s expertise. Ukraine’s priority is defense against Russian ballistic missiles, particularly the shortage of PAC-3 missiles for the Patriot air defense systems.
Additionally, Ukraine aims to develop its own ballistic missile defense systems to complement the limited global supply of PAC-3 missiles. The focus remains on supplying anti-ballistic systems to the most critical regions like the Middle East.
Zelensky did not provide further details on discussions in the Gulf but emphasized Ukraine’s commitment to enhancing its missile defense capabilities. The country will continue efforts to secure its own anti-ballistic missile systems.
