Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky travelled to the Middle East on Saturday as part of an important initiative to share experience with the Gulf states.
Iran supplied Russia with the Shahed 136 drone that Moscow has used thousands of times to attack Ukraine. As such, Ukraine and the Gulf are now at the front line of the drone war, and they are both impacted by the Russia-Iran partnership.
Since the Iran war began on February 28, the Gulf countries have been heavily bombarded by Iranian drones and missiles, and Ukraine has long experience of being under similar types of attack.
Zelensky held key meetings in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, showing that countries aligned with the US and the west can work together. It also raises questions about why the US views these wars as separate, seeing Ukraine as a European problem, but seeing Iran as a US issue.
Recent statements from the White House and US officials have been critical of the European approach and also critical of NATO. Inherently a defensive alliance, NATO has been portrayed by the US as an alliance that owes the US support for the war of choice that was launched on February 28.
Gulf outreach shows Ukraine exporting drone defense amid Iran war
Zelensky’s visit to the region is therefore symbolic. He was received warmly, more warmly than at his first meeting with the Trump administration in 2025. This is important because it shows that there is a model where Ukraine could be seen in a more positive light, if only its conflict were seen as linked to Iran by those who oppose Iran.
The Gulf countries understand this. They see Ukraine as a friend. Unlike the warmth the Ukrainian leader has received in the Gulf, he has not received such an outreach from Israel, even though Israel and Ukraine have been under Iranian drone threats.
Zelensky wrote on X, “For several weeks now, Ukrainians have been working here to help in protecting lives. I met with members of our team here and discussed the initial results, the key conclusions from their work in the Emirates, as well as several proposals.”
He went on to say that “our shared goal with our partners is greater security. Ukrainians, unfortunately, remember well what it was like when Russia’s full-scale aggression against our country began. Much depended on fast and effective defense decisions. Today, Ukraine not only needs assistance but is also ready to support those who support us.”
As a message to the Gulf, after meeting with the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Zelensky wrote on X that “Terror must not prevail anywhere in the world. Protection must be sufficient everywhere. That is why we are open to joint work that, in a strategic perspective, will certainly strengthen our peoples and the protection of life in our countries.”
He added that “Ukraine has relevant expertise in this area – our cities, unfortunately, have been under daily attack for four years of full-scale war. Ukrainians have developed an appropriate protection system that delivers a significant interception rate against enemy drones and missiles. This systematic approach and integration of experience is exactly what we are offering to our partners.”
Arab News in Riyadh noted that “Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense signed a memorandum of understanding with Ukraine on Friday covering defense procurement arrangements.”
Meanwhile, there are other major issues developing in the region. A month into the war, Arab News also noted “United States can only determine with certainty that it has destroyed about a third of Iran’s vast missile arsenal as the US and Israeli war on the country nears its one-month mark, according to five people familiar with the US intelligence.”
The Houthis have also joined the war now, targeting Israel. It appears they will initially target Israel, but this could escalate the war in general. The UAE continues to intercept missiles and be threatened by Iran, as Israel continues strikes on Iran and Lebanon, even as the war’s next steps remain unclear.
The Ukraine meetings have wider ramifications. The deals that Zelensky is working on can lead to decades of cooperation, and this will boost Ukrainian security and economy, as well as the Gulf.
The talks come as the G7 meetings discussed Iran and Ukraine. However, the US has appeared to be tough on the EU, portraying the Ukraine conflict as a European issue. “EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio when the US would get tough on Russia during a G7 ministers meeting on Friday, sparking a sharp retort, according to three sources who attended the meeting,” Axios reported.
France24 added that “European foreign ministers on Friday used a G7 meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to press the case that Russia was helping Iran target US forces in the Middle East war. Rubio joined the second day of the gathering of ministers of leading Western democracies, taking place amid wars in Iran and Ukraine, economic uncertainty and mounting unease over unpredictable US foreign policy under Donald Trump.” This comes amid tensions between White House and NATO.
For Russia and China, these disputes are welcome news, as they want a multi-polar world.
The US national security strategy back in 2017 envisioned the US confronting Russia and China, but today, with the US fighting in Iran, the next stage is unclear. This is one reason that Ukraine and the Gulf are embracing each other. They want clarity in a changing multi-polar world.