Ukraine and Saudi Arabia sign defense cooperation agreement
Ukraine and Saudi Arabia have signed a defense cooperation agreement that provides for technological collaboration and investment, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced during his visit to Jeddah on Friday.
The document was signed ahead of Zelenskyy’s meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. The two leaders discussed the situation in the Middle East and the Gulf region, Iran’s cooperation with Russia, fuel market conditions and possible energy partnership.
According to Zelenskyy, the agreement “lays the foundation for future contracts, technological cooperation, and investment. It also strengthens Ukraine’s international role as a security donor.”
“We are ready to share our expertise and systems with Saudi Arabia and to work together to strengthen the protection of lives. Now into the fifth year, Ukrainians are resisting the same kind of terrorist attacks – ballistic missiles and drones – that the Iranian regime is currently carrying out in the Middle East and the Gulf region. Saudi Arabia also has capabilities that are of interest to Ukraine, and this cooperation can be mutually beneficial,” the president said.
Ukrainian military experts who have been working in Saudi Arabia for more than a week have already presented initial results and concrete proposals for improving air defense, especially against Iranian Shahed drones and missiles.
Earlier, Zelenskyy said that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, and the United States had requested Ukrainian assistance and expertise in countering Iranian drones.
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