Ukraine Opens Defense Expertise Export in Middle East Security Deals

“Ukrainian companies will work with the armed forces of these countries to protect specific facilities,” Zelensky said. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied This handout photograph released by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service on March 28, 2026, shows Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani during their meeting in Doha. (Photo by Handout / UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google The 10-year agreements Kyiv has struck with three Gulf countries will see Ukrainian companies help to protect critical facilities, Volodymyr Zelensky said. Around 200 Ukrainian military experts were dispatched to the Middle East shortly after the launch of the US-Israeli war against Iran  to help defend neighboring countries against Iranian retaliatory strikes, especially those using long-range drones. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . The move to send active military personnel outside the country despite relentless Russian attacks at home had initially sparked criticism but also led to  discussions  on allowing a new sector to be created: private military contractors. Currently, Ukraine does not allow former military personnel to become private defense contractors for foreign entities. Zelenskyy’s step, allowing Ukrainian companies to advise foreign militaries, can be seen as a first step in this direction. “Ukrainian companies will work with the armed forces of these countries to protect specific facilities,” Zelensky said  in a social media post on Friday. The president will now negotiate “volumes, services, and types of weaponry” for which Ukraine will be paid in various different forms such as interceptors, crude oil, diesel or financial contributions. The deals have reportedly been made with  Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, with Zelensky saying further contracts are being discussed with Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain. Other Topics of Interest US Reportedly Agrees to Release $6 Billion in Frozen Iranian Assets Amid Peace Talks Washington has signaled its “seriousness” in the Islamabad negotiations by moving to unfreeze funds in exchange for the guaranteed reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Downed Shahed’s Zelensky also confirmed  that military experts sent to the Middle East not only provided advice to local armed forces on interceptor drones and electronic warfare but shot down Iranian Shahed long-range drones as well. “In those countries that opened up their air defense systems to us, our experts were able to very quickly advise how to make those systems stronger,” Zelensky said. “In some cases, we directly shared our experience in actual defense.” Ukraine’s expertise on drone defense and its innovative technology against this new type of warfare has been in high demand ever since Iran struck multiple countries in the area with its long-range suicide drones. Originally exported to Russia in its war against Ukraine, Moscow quickly advanced the fixed-winged drones, leading to a technological race with Ukraine. In March, Ukraine  shot down  over 33,000 Russian drones – twice as many as in February. Euractiv is a European news website focused on EU policies. It was founded in 1999 by the French media publisher Christophe Leclercq. The website's headquarters and central editorial staff are located in Brussels, with offices in Paris and Berlin.