Ukraine and the Countries of the Middle East Are Building Mutually Beneficial Partnerships for Years to Come – Results of the President’s Visits to Saudi Arabia, the UAE,[...]

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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy carried out working visits to the states of the Middle East and held talks with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Jordan.

The most important issues discussed by the Head of State with the leaders of Middle Eastern countries were security and mutual support for Ukraine's partners in the region.

On March 27, Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Jeddah, where he met with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. The leaders discussed steps to strengthen Ukraine and Saudi Arabia. Prior to the meeting, the Arrangement on Defense Cooperation was signed by the defense ministries of both countries. The document lays the foundation for future contracts, technological cooperation, and investment, and strengthens Ukraine's role as a security donor.

On March 28, the President arrived in Abu Dhabi, where he met with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The heads of state discussed joint efforts to protect lives and possible steps for an effective response to all current challenges. The President of Ukraine and the President of the UAE agreed on cooperation in the security and defense sector. The teams are finalizing the details of the agreements.

On March 29, Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Doha, where he met with the Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, was also present at the meeting. The President of Ukraine and the Amir of the State of Qatar discussed how to ensure greater protection of life in both countries.

The Chiefs of General Staff of Ukraine and Qatar signed the 10-year intergovernmental Agreement on Cooperation in the Defense Sector. The agreement provides for joint defense industry projects, the establishment of co-production, and technological partnerships between companies.

On March 29, the President arrived in Amman, where he met with King Abdullah II of Jordan. They discussed potential partnership in the security sector and the overall situation in the Middle East and the Gulf region.

"At every meeting, we heard that Ukraine is a true partner. Because, despite being under daily Russian attacks, Ukrainians are ready to share their experience and provide assistance. But we are not only talking about cooperation for the present. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy raises the issue of partnerships for years to come. And this concerns not only the defense sector, but also energy. For example, we have some of the deepest underground gas storage facilities. I also believe we will achieve greater understanding on international platforms. Countries in this region will always remember the help they received and the fact that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was among the first to visit them during the war," said First Deputy Head of the Office of the President Sergiy Kyslytsya.

During these visits, the Head of State also met with three teams of Ukrainian experts who are sharing their expertise in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. The President received briefings on the assessment of critical infrastructure protection, capabilities to safeguard people, and approaches to intercepting ballistic missiles and drones, as well as proposals for necessary changes to build a comprehensive defense system.

"In this region, everyone has already realized that simply possessing the most modern types of weapons is not enough. When you have weapons but lack real combat experience and an understanding of how to integrate all components into a single defense system, you cannot effectively protect lives. Ukraine, however, has practical experience in deploying our unique developments, which have proven effective in real combat conditions. We also face challenges related to Iranian 'shaheds' and similar Russian-made systems, and we are continuously developing and implementing rapid solutions that deliver combat results immediately. Ukrainian experts are now sharing this experience in the region, and it was important for the President to hear about their results firsthand," said Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andrii Hnatov.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Rustem Umerov to remain in the Middle East and the Gulf region to finalize agreements with partners.

"During the Head of State's visit, we signed important agreements in the field of security and defense cooperation. I will continue working in the region to coordinate the implementation of the reached agreements. This concerns the practical deployment of security solutions, particularly in countering aerial threats, as well as further synchronization of efforts with partners at the level of military and technical teams," concluded Rustem Umerov.