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Gulf States “Surprised” by Ukraine’s Help Countering Iranian Drones, Says Kallas
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European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas stated that Middle Eastern countries are surprised by the assistance Ukraine is providing them in countering Iranian drones.
This support comes despite Ukraine being under constant attacks itself. She made these remarks before an online meeting between EU foreign ministers and Gulf country representatives, according to Suspilne News on March 5.
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Kallas noted that the same types of drones attacking Kyiv daily are now being used in the Middle East. She explained that Ukraine can help Gulf nations because it has developed specialized drone interceptors and defense systems. The EU's top diplomat encouraged Gulf countries to maintain contact with Ukraine and President Zelenskyy to explore how they can work together.
"I called the representatives of the Gulf countries, and they were very surprised by how much Ukraine helps them in this matter, considering that it is constantly under strong attacks," she said.
During her calls with Gulf representatives, Kallas found they were very surprised by the level of help Ukraine provides on this issue.
The meeting agenda includes the safety of EU citizens in the region and the security of the Hormuz Strait and trade routes. Utilizing Ukrainian technologies to counter drones could help Gulf nations strengthen their defenses against attacks from Iran.
However, Kallas warned that escalation in the Middle East could impact Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This is due to limited defense resources and air defense systems that are now needed in several regions at once.
Kallas pointed out that defense capabilities needed in Ukraine are now being moved to the Middle East. She mentioned that supply chains and specific equipment like air defense are in high demand in both areas.
Additionally, rising oil prices benefit Russia’s ability to fund its military actions. Kallas argued for a ban on maritime transport to reduce the shadow fleet and the oil revenues Russia uses to finance the war.
On February 28, Israel attacked the Iranian capital of Tehran. Following this, US President Donald Trump announced that the American military began a large combat operation against Iran to remove threats from the Iranian regime.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine was ready to help its partners in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf counter the severe threat of Iranian drone attacks.
He highlighted the instability created by the Iranian regime and noted that no country near Iran could feel secure, especially as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz had practically stopped.
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