Zelenskiy seeks Gulf defence ties as Ukraine signs long-term security deals

CAIRO - 28 March 2026: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that Kyiv had agreed to expand defence cooperation with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, as he stepped up efforts to build strategic ties with Gulf states amid mounting regional tensions.

Speaking during an online briefing, Zelenskiy said Ukraine had signed a 10-year defence partnership with Qatar and was preparing to seal a similar long-term agreement with the UAE in the coming days. He added that Ukraine had already signed a comparable defence deal with Saudi Arabia earlier this week.

Qatar’s defence ministry said the agreement with Kyiv includes cooperation in countering missiles and unmanned aerial systems, as well as the exchange of expertise in air defence. Zelenskiy said the talks across the Gulf focused on weapons co-production, military know-how, and support for Ukraine’s energy needs.

The Ukrainian leader had earlier visited the UAE, where he met President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The two sides agreed to work together in the fields of security and defence, according to the statements cited.

The diplomatic push comes at a time when the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has shaken the wider region, disrupted global markets, and effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz. Against that backdrop, Ukraine has been offering its experience in air defence and drone warfare to countries facing growing threats to critical infrastructure.

Zelenskiy said more than 200 Ukrainian military and security experts had been sent to advise countries in the Middle East on intercepting drone attacks, which have hit energy sites across the region.

The visits also had a clear economic aim. As Ukraine’s war with Russia enters its fifth year and Western military support faces new uncertainty, Kyiv is seeking new partners to help finance domestic weapons production and ease pressure on its budget.

Zelenskiy said he had also secured a one-year diesel supply arrangement for Ukraine, though he gave no further details. Diesel remains vital for both the armed forces and the agricultural sector, even as he said the military’s current needs were fully covered.

The Gulf tour underlines Ukraine’s effort to widen its diplomatic and defence partnerships beyond its traditional Western backers, while using its wartime experience as a basis for deeper strategic cooperation.