KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Saudi Arabia Thursday for an unannounced visit, as the war in Iran spurs interest among Gulf countries in Ukrainian arms technology.
“Arrived in Saudi Arabia. Important meetings are scheduled,” Zelensky wrote on social media.
“We appreciate the support and support those who are ready to work with us to ensure security.”
Kyiv has sought to leverage its expertise in downing Russian drones to help Gulf nations, which are being attacked with the same Iranian-designed Shahed drones that Russia fires on Ukraine.
Zelensky has said that more than 200 Ukrainian anti-drone experts have been deployed to several countries in the Middle East — including Saudi Arabia — since US and Israel launched strikes on Iran that spurred retaliatory drone and missile attacks from Tehran.
Kyiv uses a mix of cheap drone interceptors, electronic jamming tools and anti-aircraft guns to down Russian drones.
Ukraine has proposed swapping its interceptors for vastly more expensive air-defense missiles that Gulf countries are currently using to down Iranian drones. Ukraine says it needs more of them to fend off Russian missile attacks.
