Ukraine has offered to help Gulf and other Middle Eastern countries defend against Iranian drones, saying Kyiv can share its operational experience, equipment and personnel. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is in talks with the United States, European partners and states near Iran, but attached a condition: leaders in the region who maintain good ties with Moscow should ask Russia to guarantee a month‑long ceasefire. If such a pause is secured, Zelenskyy said, Ukraine would deploy its best drone‑defense teams to the region and could provide similar assistance to Israel.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told Reuters Ukrainian forces can stop roughly 90% of Iranian Shahed drones, largely by using domestically produced interceptor drones. He added Kyiv could send personnel and systems abroad only if it is assured there will be no Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory while those assets are deployed.
Experts say Gulf perceptions shifted after Iranian drones, some reportedly containing Russian components, began striking targets in the Gulf. Oleksandr Chara of the Center for Defense Strategies noted that Ukraine intercepts hundreds of drones each night and has accumulated operational experience and tested algorithms that Gulf militaries lack. He also pointed to the cost imbalance: shooting down cheap drones with very expensive missiles is inefficient, so investing in Ukrainian‑style interceptors could be more economical.
Chara outlined three practical forms of cooperation: an immediate deployment of Ukrainian interceptor units to protect key facilities; training programs for Gulf drone operators conducted in Arab states and in Ukraine to deepen military ties; and Gulf investment in Ukraine’s defense industry to mass‑produce interceptor drones for both regions.
Zelenskyy has suggested Ukraine might transfer some interceptor production to Gulf partners in return for PAC‑3 missiles for Ukraine’s Patriot systems, strengthening Kyiv’s air defenses. The Financial Times reported that Pentagon officials and at least one Gulf government have discussed purchasing Ukrainian interceptor drones, according to an unnamed Ukrainian industry source.
Oleh Katkov, editor‑in‑chief of Defense Express, said Gulf states have the money to buy hardware but lack the battle‑tested operational data Ukraine has gathered — details such as the number of mobile fire units needed, ammunition consumption rates, and which systems perform best in real conditions. That real‑world data, he argued, is Ukraine’s main asset.
Politically, Zelenskyy appears to be seeking leverage: by offering know‑how and personnel, Kyiv hopes partners will reduce assistance that helps Russia evade sanctions and instead increase pressure on Moscow to end the war in Ukraine. Chara described the potential as a win‑win: Gulf countries would bolster their drone defenses while Ukraine could help forge a Middle Eastern front putting diplomatic and economic pressure on Russia. He also noted that moves such as Saudi decisions on oil pricing could affect Russia economically.
But some analysts caution that while technical agreements on drone interception can move quickly, deeper political cooperation is slower. Katkov expressed skepticism that Kyiv would obtain rapid geopolitical gains from such offers: operational decisions might be fast, but broader strategic and political alignments typically take much longer to materialize.