Zelensky: Ukrainian Anti-Drone Specialists Already Working in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE

March 12 ------ President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian anti-drone experts have begun work on defending Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates from Iranian attacks.

Ukraine – which has now been under attack from Iranian-made Shahed drones and the Russian-made drones modeled on them for over four years – has responded by offering material assistance to the countries bearing the brunt of Iran’s response. “Three of our teams have gone – strong teams of experts, military personnel, engineers, different people. Today, the military is already communicating and already working,” Zelensky told reporters, with his spokesperson later confirming that he was referring to the three Gulf states, according to AFP.

Kyiv is also reportedly in talks with the US and the Gulf States about supplying more than its expertise. Ukrainian interceptor drones are a cheap and efficient alternative to traditional air-defense missiles.

Zelensky previously said that Ukraine had sent interceptor drones and a team of drone experts to protect US military bases in Jordan. Zelensky met with Jordan’s King Abdullah II to discuss security in the region on March 4. On March 9, he said that Ukraine had sent drone specialists and interceptor drones to help defend US military bases in Jordan from Iranian drone attacks.

Although his administration has requested Ukraine’s aid in the Middle East, US President Donald Trump has continued to press Zelensky to accept a deal to end Russia’s full-scale war on any terms. “It’s unthinkable that [Zelensky is] the obstacle. You don’t have the cards. Now he’s got even fewer cards,” Trump said on March 5. Also on Wednesday, Zelensky appeared to respond to these comments when asked by an interviewer whether Ukraine now “has the cards” in light of its role in assisting the US.

“I don’t know, you tell me,” Zelensky said. “I think yes. But I think that we had them.” “It’s like a good player,” he continued. “You can have good cards, but it’s not important to show everybody that you have these cards.” “I think that a year ago we had them. I didn’t show them. But now everybody understands that we have,” he added.

Source: kyivpost.com