Ukraine Agrees Defence Cooperation with UAE and Qatar as President Visits Gulf

Reuters

The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, meets President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in Doha, Qatar.

Ukraine on Saturday agreed to enhance defence cooperation with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, as President Volodymyr Zelensky travelled to both countries amid rising regional tensions.

In a statement, Qatar’s Ministry of Defence said Doha and Kyiv had signed a defence cooperation agreement that includes the exchange of expertise in countering missile threats and unmanned aerial systems.

"We are talking about a 10-year partnership. We have already signed the agreement with Saudi Arabia, and we have ⁠just signed a similar 10-year agreement with Qatar," Zelenskiy told reporters during an online briefing.

"We will also sign a 10-year agreement with the UAE. It will happen within the next several days."

President Zelensky had earlier visited the United Arab Emirates, where he met President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with both sides agreeing to strengthen cooperation in the fields of security and defence.

Ukraine has also offered its expertise in air defence and drone technology to countries in the region.

President Zelensky is seeking to secure greater support from Gulf nations in Ukraine’s ongoing war against Russia, now in its fifth year, as Western military assistance faces growing uncertainty and Kyiv looks for additional funding to address its budget deficit and support domestic weapons production.

More than 200 Ukrainian military and security experts have been deployed to advise countries in the Middle East on countering drone attacks, which have caused significant disruption to energy infrastructure across the region.

President Zelensky said his recent visits were aimed at building strategic partnerships with Gulf countries and securing funding to support weapons production in Ukraine.

He noted that discussions focused on joint weapons production, the exchange of expertise, as well as ensuring stable energy and fuel supplies for Ukraine.

President Zelensky also confirmed an agreement to supply Ukraine with diesel for one year, although further details were not disclosed. Diesel remains essential for both the Ukrainian armed forces and the country’s agricultural sector.

He added that Ukraine requires around 700,000 litres of diesel per month, noting that the military’s needs are currently fully met.

Earlier this week, President Zelensky visited Saudi Arabia, where the two countries also signed a defence cooperation agreement.

Source: Reuters



PUKMEDIA