Zelenskyy offers drone defense to Gulf allies as Ukraine seeks more missiles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is turning battlefield innovation into bargaining power, offering his anti-drone systems to Middle Eastern allies while seeking more air defense support as the war with Russia enters its fourth year.

Zelensky met with United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Friday, where the two discussed a deal under which Ukraine would provide its cutting-edge counter-drone technology in exchange for ballistic missile support and financial aid.

In a wide-ranging interview with Fox News after the meeting, Zelensky explained how Ukraine’s battlefield innovations, including its anti-Russian drone systems, are influencing defense partnerships around the world.

ZELENSKYY ANNOUNCES NEXT ROUND OF TALKS WITH US AND RUSSIA AS UKRAINE AIMS FOR “TRUE AND DIGNIFIED END TO WAR”

In a wide-ranging interview with Fox News following the meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy explained how Ukrainian innovations on the battlefield influence defense partnerships around the world. (Fox News)

“For example, we have drone interceptors, we have [a] an electronic warfare system and many other things — it all works together in one system. This is what we have [that] no one did it,” Zelenskyy told Fox News correspondent Matt Finn in Abu Dhabi.

Ukraine now shares elements of this system with at least four Persian Gulf countries – the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan and Saudi Arabia – as they face growing threats from Iranian drone capabilities.

But Zelensky stressed that the partnership must be reciprocal. Ukraine continues to face a “large deficit” of critical air defense weapons, particularly PAC-3 Patriot missiles used to intercept ballistic threats.

“We are ready to help the countries of the Middle East with our expertise and knowledge, and we hope … that they can help with anti-ballistic missiles,” Zelensky said.

Ukraine has already signed 10-year defense deals with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and a similar agreement with the United Arab Emirates is expected soon, according to the AP.

Trump meets Zelensky; TALKERS COULD UNBLOCK FIRST ZELENSKYY-PUTIN CALL IN FIVE YEARS: SOURCE

A plume of smoke rises from the site of a strike in Tehran, March 28, 2026. (ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty Images)

Zelenskyy also warned that increased US military focus on the Middle East – amid escalating tensions with Iran and the ongoing “Operation Epic Fury” – could slow the flow of weapons to Ukraine.

He said Russia is already strengthening Iran’s military by sharing drone technology, including the Shahed “kamikaze” drones, as well as battlefield tactics developed during the war.

“Russia will share everything it knows about this war… It already shares it with the Iranians,” Zelenskyy said.

Although he did not confirm the missile transfers, Zelenskyy suggested that Moscow had a strategic interest in prolonging instability in the Middle East in order to divert American attention from Ukraine.

“That’s what they do,” Zelenskyy said.

On the battlefield, Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine would not cede territory in the disputed Donbas region, arguing that doing so would weaken defenses, harm troop morale and displace tens of thousands of civilians.

“I think their morale will drop,” Zelensky said.

He also urged the Trump administration not to lose sight of Ukraine when addressing tensions in the Middle East.

As Ukraine war drags on, Trump hits Putin by squeezing Russia’s proxies

Houses destroyed after a Russian drone attack on March 28 in Odessa, Ukraine. (Viacheslav Onyshchenko/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

More than 270 Russian drones struck Ukraine overnight Friday, killing at least five people, Ukrainian officials said Saturday, according to AP.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“I hope that President Trump… will find a way to end this war by putting pressure on the Iranian regime, and I hope that he will not forget either… Russia’s war against Ukraine,” Zelensky said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.