Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the country wants to receive financial and technological support in exchange for sharing anti-aircraft unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) experience with Middle Eastern countries.
According to Mr. Zelensky, Kiev has sent many expert groups to the Middle East region to assess the defense system and guide how to deal with "kamikaze"-style attack UAVs developed by Iran.
Each group consists of dozens of experts, performing field surveys and demonstrating effective defense plans against UAVs, according to SCMP on March 15.
According to military estimates and international media, Iran has launched more than 500 ballistic missiles and more than 2,000 UAVs at targets in the Middle East since February 28, including US bases and Gulf countries.
Gulf countries have had to spend a large amount of anti-aircraft missiles to intercept attacking UAVs in recent times, so they have turned to Ukraine's experience in dealing with this type of weapon.
In the conflict with Russia, Ukraine almost has to deal with UAV attacks every night. Kiev uses many different measures, from electronic jamming devices to low-cost small UAVs to shoot down targets.
According to Mr. Zelensky, nearly a dozen countries around the world have come to Ukraine to learn about anti-UAV experience.
Previously, Ukraine sent experts to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Another group also worked at a US military base in Jordan.
President Zelensky emphasized that this support does not mean that Ukraine participates in military operations in the Middle East.
We are not fighting Iran. This is just a matter of protecting and fully assessing how to deal with Shahed UAVs," he mentioned the UAV line developed by Iran.
The Ukrainian leader said that specific support terms are still being discussed, but Kiev considers both financial resources and technology important to the country.
Mr. Zelensky also expressed concern that developments in the Middle East could cause the US to reduce its focus on the war in Ukraine.
We don't want to lose US support, while they are currently busy with the Middle East," he said.
According to Mr. Zelensky, Ukraine is showing goodwill to support the US and its allies in the Middle East, and hopes Washington will not turn its back on the conflict in Ukraine.
