Ukraine Seeks Compensation for Drone Defense Expertise in Middle East

Firefighters work at the site of a residential area which was hit by a Russian airstrike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine.

Ukraine has made clear that its assistance to Middle Eastern nations facing Iranian kamikaze drone threats will come with expectations of financial support and technological cooperation. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that Kyiv has already deployed specialist teams to several countries in the region, where they are conducting assessments and demonstrating effective drone‑defense strategies. 

According to Zelenskiy, each team consists of dozens of experts tasked with helping partner nations strengthen their air‑defense capabilities—an area where Ukraine has gained extensive experience during its ongoing conflict with Russia. Gulf states, which have expended significant stockpiles of air‑defense missiles countering Iranian drones, have shown strong interest in Ukraine’s operational knowledge. 

Kyiv has sent specialists to four locations, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and a U.S. military base in Jordan. In return, Ukraine is seeking both monetary compensation and access to advanced technologies that could bolster its own defense sector. 

Zelenskiy emphasized that Ukraine’s expertise is valuable and that partnerships should be mutually beneficial, particularly as the country continues to navigate the demands of its own security challenges.