Ukrainian President Ready to Back Arab States Against Iran's Shahed-136 Drones

Kyiv — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelensky has said he has ordered the Ukrainian government to develop options to support Gulf states facing drone and missile attacks from Iran, and will share that experience since Ukraine itself has withstood drone attacks from Russia that originated in Iran. ‘Our military has the necessary capabilities,’ Zelensky said in Kyiv on Wednesday, 4 March 2026, quoted by Kyiv Independent. ‘Ukrainian experts will work on site, and the team has already begun negotiations. We are ready to help protect lives and civilians.’ Ukraine’s offer comes as Gulf states report large-scale assaults involving Shahed-136 attack drones. The drones use the same system that Russia has deployed, Geran-2, which has been widely used against Ukraine since 2022. Zelensky said he has spoken with leaders of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Jordan and Bahrain, and is preparing talks with Kuwaiti leadership. All these countries have been targets of Iranian attacks aimed at the American military. ‘All of these countries face serious threats, and they are discussing them openly: Iran’s attack drones. The same Shahed drones that have attacked our cities and villages, our Ukrainian infrastructure,’ he said. Zelensky has tasked Foreign Minister (FM) Andrii Sybiha, together with intelligence agencies, Defence Minister (DM) Mykhailo Fedorov, and the military command, to prepare proposals to support the partners. He said he will ensure support for Arab states against Iran. ‘I have directed our team to present ways to support these countries and provide assistance in a way that does not endanger our own defence in Ukraine,’ Zelensky said.