Ukraine has offered to help Middle Eastern countries defend against Iranian drones, saying Kyiv has extensive experience in drone defense and can share expertise and personnel. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is in talks with the US, European countries and states bordering Iran, but attached a condition: leaders in the Middle East who have good relations with Russia should ask Moscow to implement a month-long ceasefire. If such a ceasefire is guaranteed, Zelenskyy said, Ukraine would send its best drone defense operators to the region and could assist Israel similarly.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told Reuters that Ukrainian forces could stop about 90% of Iranian Shahed drones, mostly using domestically produced interceptor drones. He added that Ukraine could send some personnel and systems if it is guaranteed there will be no Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory.
Experts say Gulf states’ perception changed when Iranian drones, some fitted with Russian components, began striking targets in the Gulf. Oleksandr Chara of the Center for Defense Strategies notes that Ukraine intercepts hundreds of drones nightly and can provide both expertise and experienced operational staff. He points out the economic logic for Gulf states: shooting down a relatively cheap drone with an expensive missile system is wasteful, so investing in Ukrainian-style interceptor capabilities could be more cost-effective.
Chara outlines three cooperation scenarios: immediate deployment of Ukrainian interceptor forces to protect facilities; training Gulf drone pilots in Arab countries and in Ukraine to strengthen military ties; and Gulf investment in Ukraine’s defense industry to mass-produce interceptor drones for both sides.
Zelenskyy has suggested Ukraine might hand over some interceptor production to Gulf states in exchange for US PAC-3 missiles for Ukraine’s Patriot systems, which would bolster Kyiv’s air defenses. The Financial Times reported that the Pentagon and at least one Gulf government have discussed buying Ukrainian-made interceptor drones, according to an unnamed Ukrainian industry source.
Defense Express editor-in-chief Oleh Katkov says Gulf states have the finances to buy equipment but lack the operational data and battle-tested algorithms Ukraine has accumulated. Ukraine’s value, he argues, lies in real battlefield data: how many mobile fire units are needed, ammo consumption, and which systems work in practice.
Politically, Zelenskyy seeks leverage: by offering know-how, Ukraine hopes partners will stop helping Russia evade sanctions and instead increase pressure on Moscow to end its war in Ukraine. Chara calls such cooperation a potential win-win: Gulf countries would gain better drone defense while Ukraine could help build a Middle East coalition against Russia. He also notes that Saudi Arabia, by lowering oil prices, could economically hurt Russia.
However, Katkov is skeptical that Ukraine will reap quick political benefits. While technical decisions on intercepting Iranian drones might be fast, broader political choices and deep cooperation are typically slower.
(Photo: Smoke rises over a hotel damaged in Dubai after Iranian drones were fired at the Gulf state — video obtained by Reuters/Handout via REUTERS)
This article was translated from German.
