Ukraine wants money and technology after sending specialists to the Middle East to help shoot down Iranian drones during the Israel-US war with Iran.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said three teams were sent to the region to conduct expert assessments and demonstrate how drone defenses work, as countries in the Middle East continue to be targeted by Iran for hosting US military bases.
"It's not about getting involved in operations. We are not at war with Iran," Zelensky said.
Earlier this week, Ukraine's leader announced that military teams were being sent to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and a US military base in Jordan.
But he explained that more long-term drone deals could be negotiated with Gulf countries, and what Kiev gets in return for its assistance has yet to be determined.
"For us today, both technology and financing are important," Zelensky continued.
Throughout the four-year Russia-Ukraine war, Moscow has used Iranian Shahed-136 drones, giving Kiev expertise in shooting down unmanned aerial vehicles and jamming them.
However, as the Russia-Ukraine war continues, Zelensky raised concerns that the ongoing war in the Middle East will affect Kiev's supplies of air defense missiles. /Telegraph/
