Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that his tour of Middle Eastern countries had been a success, announcing that several security cooperation agreements had been reached or were under discussion.
Zelenskyy travelled to the region to promote Ukraine’s defence expertise, developed during its ongoing war with Russia, particularly in countering drone attacks. Kyiv has faced repeated strikes from Iranian-designed drones used by Russian forces since 2022.
Speaking in his nightly address after returning to Kyiv, Zelenskyy described the agreements as “historic,” highlighting new partnerships with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. He added that Ukraine was also working with Jordan and Kuwait, while Bahrain and Oman had expressed interest in cooperation.
“For Ukraine, this is not only about prestige,” he said. “This is a very concrete and practical matter.”
