Zelenskyy offers drone defense to Gulf allies as Ukraine seeks more missiles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is turning battlefield innovations into bargaining power, offering Ukraine’s anti-drone systems to Middle Eastern allies while seeking more air defense support as the war with Russia enters its fourth year.

Zelenskyy met with United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Friday, and the two discussed a deal under which Ukraine would provide state-of-the-art counter-drone technology in exchange for ballistic missile support and financial assistance.

In a wide-ranging interview with Fox News following the meeting, Zelenskyy detailed how Ukraine’s battlefield innovations, namely anti-Russian drones, are affecting defense partnerships around the world.

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“For example, we have drone interceptors. [a] electronic warfare system and many more. All these work together in a single system. This is what we have [that] “Nobody has it,” Zelenskyy told Fox News correspondent Matt Finn in Abu Dhabi.

Ukraine currently shares elements of this system with at least four Persian Gulf states (UAE, Qatar, Jordan and Saudi Arabia) that face increasing threats from Iran’s drone capabilities.

However, Zelenskyy emphasized that the partnership should be mutual. Ukraine continues to face a “major shortage” of critical air defense weapons, particularly PAC-3 Patriot missiles used to thwart ballistic threats.

“We are ready to help Middle Eastern countries with our expertise and knowledge, and we hope that they can also help with anti-ballistic missiles,” Zelenskyy said. he said.

According to the AP, Ukraine has already signed 10-year defense agreements with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and a similar agreement is expected to be signed with the UAE soon.

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A cloud of smoke rises from the strike zone in Tehran on early March 28, 2026. (Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images)

Zelenskyy also warned that increased US military focus on the Middle East due to rising tensions with Iran and the ongoing “Operation Epic Rage” could slow the flow of arms to Ukraine.

He claimed that Russia had already strengthened Iran’s military by sharing drone technology, including Shahed “kamikaze” drones, and battlefield tactics developed during the war.

Zelenskyy said, “Russia will share what it knows about this war. They are already sharing it with the Iranians.”

While Zelenskyy refrained from confirming the missile transfers, he argued that Moscow had a strategic interest in prolonging instability in the Middle East to distract US attention from Ukraine.

“This is what they do,” Zelenskyy said.

On the battlefield, Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine would not give up territory in the disputed Donbas region, arguing that this would weaken defenses, harm troop morale and displace tens of thousands of civilians.

“I think their morale will drop,” Zelenskyy said.

He also called on the Trump administration not to overlook Ukraine when addressing tensions in the Middle East.

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Houses were destroyed following the Russian drone attack in Odesa, Ukraine, on March 28. (Viacheslav Onyshchenko/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

More than 270 Russian drones struck Ukraine on Friday, killing at least five people, Ukrainian officials said Saturday, according to the AP.

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“I hope that President Trump will find a way to end this war by putting pressure on the Iranian regime, and I hope they do not forget about Russia’s war against Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.