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11 Countries Seek Ukrainian Drone Tech as Kyiv Expands Defense Exports
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that 11 countries have expressed interest in Ukrainian drone technologies, as Kyiv moves to expand defense cooperation and arms exports.
According to his Telegram on April 19, speaking in an interview with the national telethon, Zelenskyy outlined growing international demand, particularly from regions beyond Europe.
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“The Middle East and the Gulf, plus we are gradually looking at the Caucasus. Within this Drone Deal, there will be at least 10 different agreements on the export of Ukrainian weapons,” he said.
The president noted that the initiative includes not only exports but also joint production, with plans to establish Ukrainian manufacturing lines both domestically and abroad.
“Co-production is envisaged—the construction of our production lines both in Ukraine and in other countries,” Zelenskyy added.
According to him, the agreements will involve the development of new technologies in partnership with participating countries, which in turn will provide investment. Zelenskyy said that financing arrangements have already been secured for a defined period, with agreed annual volumes.
He also announced the “start of work” with several European partners, including Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands.
“Of course, we have strong relations with the United Kingdom and France. I am confident that all of this will also move forward there,” Zelenskyy said.
Since late March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also carried out a series of working visits to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Türkiye, and Syria, marking an unprecedented level of engagement between Kyiv and the Middle East. These focused on concrete outcomes, including the signing of long-term, 10-year agreements with several countries aimed at developing cooperation in defense and energy.
For the first time, Ukraine is positioning itself as a potential defense partner to countries such as the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. At the request of regional governments, more than 200 Ukrainian specialists have been deployed to assist in countering threats such as Iranian-made Shahed drones. Drawing on experience from years of full-scale war with Russia, Ukrainian forces have developed advanced capabilities in drone defense, achieving interception rates exceeding 89%.
Ukraine’s experience is largely unmatched. During the winter of 2025–2026 alone, Russia launched around 19,000 drones at Ukrainian territory—an intensity few countries have faced. In response, Ukraine developed new countermeasures, including interceptor drones, a domestically designed system created by Ukrainian engineers.
As Kyiv deepens its partnerships, it has emphasized a two-way approach to cooperation—offering its battlefield experience and technical expertise in return for international support. Ukrainian specialists have already been deployed to several partner countries, including in Europe and the Gulf, to train air defense units and share knowledge gained from the war.
Earlier, on March 5, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is prepared to support its partners in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf in addressing the growing threat posed by Iranian drone attacks.
Zelenskyy pointed to the broader security challenges facing both Ukraine and its partners, emphasizing the destabilizing impact of Iran’s actions. “The Iranian regime, struggling to maintain its power, is creating clear threats to all the countries in the region, as well as to global stability,” he said.
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