Ukraine’s government announced on Friday (March 20) that it has dispatched professional technical teams to five Middle Eastern countries to assist in intercepting Iranian-made drones and provide air defense advice. Currently, Ukraine is actively seeking to reach a $50 billion unmanned aerial vehicle cooperation agreement with the United States, intending to exchange advanced technology gained from real combat experience for American funding and technological investment.
President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, confirmed that a total of 228 military experts have been deployed to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan, countries that have been repeatedly targeted by Iranian drone attacks in the ongoing conflicts.
Chairman of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), Rustem Umerov, personally visited these five countries this week and stated that both sides have outlined further steps for “long-term security cooperation,” with initial efforts focusing on protecting civilians and critical infrastructure.
In an interview with Reuters, Zelenskiy once again emphasized Ukraine’s technological advantage, stating, “I believe that no one’s experience can compare to ours.”
Russia has launched nearly 60,000 “Shahed” and similar suicide drones at Ukraine since 2022, leading Ukraine to accumulate substantial combat experience in combating such threats.
Despite Gulf countries possessing advanced American-made air defense systems, intercepting missiles not only cost significantly more than suicide drones but also currently face supply shortages.
Ukraine aims to transform this proven defense solution into a significant agreement with the United States. The proposed plan values up to $50 billion, with Ukraine hoping to share technology for unmanned surface vessels and long-range drones in exchange for American investment to assist in Ukraine’s post-war economic recovery.
Regarding Ukraine’s proposal, US President Trump expressed confidence in America’s existing technology.
During an interview with Fox News on March 13, Trump stated, “No, we do not need help from Ukraine in drone defense. We understand drones better than anyone else and actually have the best drones in the world.”
He reiterated in a call on Friday that the United States does not currently need Ukrainian experts to assist in countering drone threats.
While there are still differences in their stances, delegations from Ukraine and the United States are expected to hold talks in the United States over the weekend to discuss a wide-ranging drone agreement and bilateral cooperation documents.
Zelenskiy has shown a positive attitude towards this, writing on the social platform X, “I am very interested in signing this agreement with our close partner, the United States.”
Currently, Ukraine has engaged in joint drone production with countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark, and the Netherlands, and is beginning cooperation with Norway in this area. Zelenskiy emphasized that Ukraine’s expertise in ensuring security is being recognized by partner countries, which is crucial for life protection.