Image: from Public News X @PublicNewsX
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
DOHA, Qatar — In a landmark diplomatic shift, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday announced the signing of long-term defense agreements with Qatar and Saudi Arabia, positioning Ukraine as a key security provider in the Middle East as the region grapples with a surge in Iranian aerial attacks.
The 10-year partnerships, described by Ukrainian officials as a “strategic evolution” of Kyiv’s international role, focus on the co-production of weaponry, joint defense investments, and the deployment of Ukraine’s battle-tested anti-drone technology. The move comes as Gulf states face increasing threats from Iran-aligned groups following a series of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran that have destabilized the global energy market and closed the Strait of Hormuz.
“We are not just talking about the sale of equipment; we are talking about a decade of cooperation to protect life,” Zelenskyy said during a press briefing in Doha following a meeting with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. “Ukraine has unique expertise in neutralizing modern aerial terror, and we are ready to share it with those who value stability.”
The deal with Qatar involves the exchange of expertise in countering unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and ballistic missiles. A similar agreement was finalized in Riyadh earlier this week during an unannounced visit with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. A third pact with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is expected to be signed in the coming days.
For Ukraine, the agreements offer a critical economic lifeline as the war with Russia enters its fifth year and Western military aid remains subject to political volatility in Washington. Kyiv is reportedly seeking a “technology swap,” offering its low-cost, effective drone interceptors in exchange for the high-end, expensive air-defense missiles, such as the Patriot system, that Gulf nations currently possess in significant numbers.
Military analysts suggest the deals mark Ukraine’s emergence as a “security donor.” Already, more than 200 Ukrainian specialists have been deployed across the Gulf to advise local forces on intercepting Shahed-type drones, the same Iranian-made platforms Russia has used to devastate Ukrainian infrastructure since 2022.
The diplomatic tour also secured immediate economic relief for Kyiv. Zelenskyy confirmed a one-year diesel supply arrangement with the Gulf partners to ensure Ukraine’s military and agricultural sectors remain operational despite the global oil price spike caused by the regional conflict.
“Terror must not prevail anywhere,” Zelenskyy posted on social media. “From the Black Sea to the Persian Gulf, the protection of life must be sufficient everywhere.”