Zelensky said partners had been reaching out, including “requests from the American side,” and that he had ordered steps to respond.
“I gave instructions to provide the necessary means and ensure the presence of Ukrainian specialists who can guarantee the necessary security,” he said on Thursday.
He added in a social media post: “Ukraine helps partners who help our security and the protection of our people’s lives.”
Zelensky said in recent days he had spoken with the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait about possible cooperation. He said Ukrainian assistance would be provided only if it did not weaken Ukraine’s own defenses and if it strengthened Kyiv’s diplomatic efforts to end the war with Russia.
“We help to defend from war those who help us, Ukraine, bring a just end to the war,” he said.
On Wednesday, CNN reported that U.S. administration officials acknowledged Iranian Shahed drones posed a greater threat than expected and that U.S. air defenses would not be able to intercept all of them.
“I’ll take any assistance from any country,” U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday in a phone call with Reuters.
On Tuesday, Zelensky said Ukraine lacked PAC-3 missiles for Patriot air defense systems and was ready to exchange its interceptor drones with Middle Eastern countries for those missiles.
A day earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Ukraine could send drone specialists to the Middle East and share its expertise in downing Shaheds if partners helped bring about a ceasefire in the war with Russia.
Sybiha said Ukraine’s success rate in neutralizing Iranian drones had reached 90%, partly thanks to the use of domestically produced interceptor drones.
(jh)
Source: PAP, The Guardian, CNN