Qatar and Ukraine on Saturday signed a defense agreement which includes cooperation on countering threats from missiles and drones, Doha said, as Iran presses an aerial campaign against its neighbors.
Earlier on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy — during a previously unannounced flurry of visits to Gulf nations — said his country and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to cooperate on defense amid drones Iran launches in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes.
Ukraine also signed an air defense agreement with Saudi Arabia during Zelenskiy’s visit to the kingdom, two senior officials said on Friday.
Photo: the Qatar Amiri Diwan via AFP
OPPORTUNITY
Kyiv has sought to leverage its expertise in downing Russian drones to help Gulf nations and has deployed anti-drone experts to all three countries Zelenskiy has visited during his diplomatic tour.
“The agreement includes collaboration in technological fields, development of joint investments, and the exchange of expertise in countering missiles and unmanned aerial systems,” the Qatari Ministry of Defense said in a statement during Zelenskiy’s visit.
Ukraine has not disclosed what has been agreed as part of the deals.
After meetings in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, Zelenskiy held talks in the UAE with Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“We agreed to cooperate in the field of security and defense. Our teams will finalize the details,” Zelenskiy said on social media on Saturday.
INCREASING EXCHANGES
“For all normal states, it is important to ensure stability and protect lives amid today’s threats. Ukraine has relevant expertise in this area,” he said.
Ukraine touts its anti-drone defenses as the best in the world.
It has proposed swapping its interceptors for the vastly more expensive air-defense missiles that Gulf countries are using to down Iranian drones. Kyiv said it needs more of them to fend off near-daily Russian missile attacks.
“Protection must be sufficient everywhere. That is why we are open to joint work that, in a strategic perspective, will certainly strengthen our peoples and the protection of life in our countries,” Zelenskiy said.
In the UAE, Zelenskiy met Ukrainian anti-drone experts, who “have been working here to help in protecting lives.”
“Today, Ukraine not only needs assistance, but is also ready to support those who support us,” Zelenskiy added.
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