Zelenskyy: Ukraine is expanding security cooperation with countries in the Middle East and the Gulf

Ukraine is actively strengthening its cooperation with countries in the Middle East and the Gulf region to enhance global security.

This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

According to him, substantive cooperation has already been established with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar; work is ongoing with Jordan; and communication is being maintained with Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq.

Separately, new formats of cooperation are being developed, particularly with Turkey and other countries that have significant potential.

Zelenskyy emphasized that the situation in the Middle East has a global impact—from security to the economy and technology—and that war only increases the level of threats.

He noted that Ukraine is already sharing its military expertise, particularly in countering drones and missiles, and has seen initial results.

The President also compared the threats posed by Iranian attacks in the region to those Ukraine faces from Russian strikes, and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to the blockade of Ukrainian ports in 2022.

Zelenskyy stressed that no country should be left to face such challenges alone and called for strengthened international coordination to protect people and ensure stability.

On March 11, 2026, Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, arrived in the United Arab Emirates as part of a broader visit to the Middle East.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that eleven countries, including Iran’s neighbors, European states, and the United States, have turned to Ukraine for assistance in countering “suicide bombers.”