Ukraine Begins Locking In Ten-Year Defense Deals Across the Middle East

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with Ukrainian and international journalists on March 28 about the objectives and initial results of his visits to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. UNITED24 Media summarizes the key points.

What the "drone deal"  looks like

Ukraine’s objective is to establish defense partnerships with countries in the Middle East. This goes beyond supplying interceptor drones; it involves creating full-scale air defense systems, including drones, electronic warfare systems, and other technologies designed to protect the skies.

Ukraine has this experience, while many other countries do not. That is why Kyiv is prepared to share its expertise comprehensively—through joint production, training programs, and education. A drone, after all, cannot operate without a trained pilot.

Not all details of the agreements can be disclosed at this stage or with all countries, but they involve 10-year contracts worth billions of dollars.

These agreements will help Ukrainian manufacturers expand exports, secure contracts, and enter new markets, while the state gains new partners and opportunities for bilateral cooperation, says Zelenskyy.

"Funds earned will be used to purchase the weapons we need," he said. He also emphasized that Ukrainian forces are currently engaged only in combat within Ukraine against Russia; the Middle East mission does not involve deploying Ukrainian troops to combat operations.

Long-term partnerships will create development and cooperation opportunities for both private and public sectors. For Middle Eastern countries, these agreements offer access to one of the most advanced real-world air defense experiences currently available—Ukraine’s. This systemic approach, Zelenskyy added, will allow Ukraine to become not just an exporter, but a key contributor to global security.

Russia and Iran

Zelenskyy also stressed that the world must understand: Russia is not standing aside from the war in the Middle East. Intelligence consistently shows that Moscow is providing Tehran with data and may also be supplying weapons. While the scale of these transfers is unknown, the Kremlin’s involvement on Iran’s side is evident.

For example, Russian satellites conduct reconnaissance of other countries’ infrastructure, as well as US military bases in the region.

"Sanctions on Russia must not be lifted," Zelenskyy said. "Otherwise, Russia would become even more involved in wars both in Europe and in the Middle East. Pressure must be increased on the aggressor, not reduced."

Russian oil

Due to rising oil prices, Russia may have earned an additional $2 billion in the first two weeks alone. However, if prices stabilize, this short-term gain will not offset the massive projected budget deficit—estimated at up to $100 billion in Ukraine by the end of the year. This will pose a significant challenge for Russia.

At the same time, following attacks on a Baltic Sea port, Moscow temporarily lost the ability to export up to 40% of its oil by sea.

"We are delivering asymmetric strikes: the Kremlin targets our energy sector—and we strike theirs," Zelenskyy said. He noted that the effectiveness of such attacks has increased thanks to the development of long-range drones and Ukrainian missiles. "These strikes are carried out with our own weapons."

Despite global oil market challenges, Ukraine’s military is receiving fuel in full and is facing no shortages, said Zelenskyy. He further expressed hope that European countries will soon find a way to unlock and transfer €90 billion ($103 billion) needed to support Ukraine’s defense capabilities.

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