BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy intensified Kyiv’s global security outreach on Saturday with unannounced visits to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, part of a broader effort to deepen defense cooperation with Gulf Arab states amid escalating instability in the Middle East.
The visits highlight Ukraine’s growing role as a provider of advanced, battle-tested drone defense systems, as well as its ambition to turn wartime innovation into long-term geopolitical partnerships. Zelenskyy said Kyiv has already secured 10-year security agreements with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and expects to finalize a similar agreement with the UAE soon.
Ukraine’s rapidly developing drone capabilities have become a central part of its defense against Russia since the full-scale invasion began on Feb. 24, 2022. Ukrainian forces have created relatively low-cost interceptor drones capable of destroying incoming threats, including Iranian-designed systems used extensively by Russian troops.
Zelenskyy’s Gulf tour follows a visit to Saudi Arabia earlier in the week and reflects Ukraine’s effort to position itself as a security partner beyond Europe. In exchange for sharing its drone expertise and battlefield experience, Ukraine is seeking access to advanced air-defense systems held by Gulf nations, particularly high-end missiles needed to counter continued aerial attacks.
During his stop in the UAE, Zelenskyy met with Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss regional security concerns linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran. Emirati state media confirmed the talks focused on strengthening coordination against rising threats.
Later, upon arriving in Qatar, Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of cooperation, saying that lasting security depends on strong partnerships and shared commitment. He shared a video of his arrival, where he was welcomed by Qatari officials.
The diplomatic push comes as tensions continue to rise in the Middle East following the outbreak of conflict on Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel carried out coordinated strikes on Iran. Tehran responded with attacks on Israel and several Gulf states, as well as a blockade of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global energy supplies and driving oil prices higher.
Zelenskyy recently revealed that Ukraine is assisting five countries—the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan—in countering Iranian drone strikes. He described the cooperation as both strategic and principled, stressing that threats of this kind must be confronted globally.
Speaking during a virtual briefing, Zelenskyy outlined Ukraine’s broader goals in the Middle East, including joint defense production, investment partnerships, energy cooperation, and the sharing of combat experience. He made clear that Ukraine is not focused on simple arms sales, but on building long-term strategic alliances.
Despite shortages of advanced air-defense systems such as Patriot missiles, Ukraine has developed an integrated defense approach combining electronic warfare, mobile units, and drone interception. This system has proven effective against waves of Iranian-made Shahed drones, which Russia has adapted and used in large numbers.
While Zelenskyy pursued diplomacy abroad, the war continued to take a toll at home. Ukrainian officials said Russia launched more than 270 drones overnight in one of the largest attacks in recent weeks, killing at least five people.
In the southern port city of Odesa, two people were killed and at least eleven others injured after a nighttime strike damaged homes and a maternity hospital. Emergency teams worked through the night to respond to the destruction.
Further casualties were reported in Kryvyi Rih, Zelenskyy’s hometown, where a drone struck an industrial facility, and in the Poltava region, where energy infrastructure, including facilities operated by Naftogaz, was hit.
Ukraine’s air force said most of the 273 drones launched overnight were intercepted or disabled, showing the growing effectiveness of its defense systems.
In Russia, officials reported casualties from Ukrainian drone strikes. In the Yaroslavl region, a child was killed when a drone hit a residential building, and two adults were seriously injured. Russia’s Defense Ministry said it shot down 155 Ukrainian drones over its territory and the annexed Crimea.
The increasing use of drones by both sides, combined with Ukraine’s expanding diplomatic outreach in the Gulf, highlights how modern warfare is becoming more interconnected, with technology, alliances, and regional conflicts shaping the global security landscape.
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