In a big geopolitical shift, Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyyon Wednesday announced that Kyiv is dispatching military specialists to the Middle East to help counterIranian dronesand missile threats, following outreach from multiple countries, including the United States. Speaking about the move, Zelenskyy in an interview said Ukraine’s battlefield experience in defending against Iranian-made Shahed drones and missile barrages has positioned it as a valuable partner for nations facing similar threats.
Over the past few days, the Ukrainian leader confirmed he has held discussions with officials from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait. He added that further conversations with regional leaders are expected soon.
"Partners are reaching out to us, to Ukraine, for help for defense against Shaheds, expertise, and real operational support. There have been requests about this from the American side as well. These past few days I have spoken with the leaders of the Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordon and Kuwait. There will be more talks with other regional leaders. We're cordinating with our European partners," Zelenskyy said.
In a post to the social platform X, Zelensky said he has tasked Ukraine’s minister of foreign affairs, minister of defense, intelligence agencies and the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine “to present options for assisting the relevant countries and to provide aid in a way that does not weaken our own defense” in Ukraine.
“In just a few days, Iran has launched over 800 missiles of various types and more than 1,400 attack drones. It is Iranian drones and missiles that pose the main threat to free navigation, destabilising global prices for oil, petroleum products, and gas,” he wrote.
The Ukrainian President noted that he is consulting with partners in Europe and the United States and that he spoke with the leaders of several countries neighboring Iran, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan and Bahrain. Talks with Kuwait and other countries in the region are also planned.
“All of them face a serious challenge and speak openly about it: Iranian attack drones are the same ‘shaheds’ that have been striking our cities, villages, and our Ukrainian infrastructure throughout this war,” he added.
Iran launched missiles at Israel early Thursday as aerial attacks in the Middle East commenced for a sixth day after an American submarine sank an Iranian warship and Iran threatened the destruction of military and economic infrastructure across the region.
The tempo of retaliation on Iran was so intense that state television announced the mourning ceremony for Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the start of the conflict, would be postponed.
Ananya is a journalist with a strong grounding in breaking news and a deep-rooted passion for geopolitics. She has 6 years of experience in TV and Dig...View More
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