Zelensky offers help in countering Iranian drones in Middle East in return for truce
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed sending Ukraine's top experts in intercepting Iranian drones to the Middle East if the region's leaders persuade Vladimir Putin to agree to a month-long truce in Russia's war against Ukraine.
Zelensky made the remarks in a comment to Bloomberg, according to Ukrinform.
According to the president, four years of Russia's full-scale invasion has allowed Kyiv to develop unique expertise in intercepting drones, many of them Iranian-made Shaheds currently being deployed against countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
"I would suggest the following: leaders of the Middle East have great relations with Russians. They can ask Russians to implement a month-long ceasefire," Zelensky said.
Once a truce was in place "we will send our best operators of drone interceptors to the Middle East countries," he said. The ceasefire could also be called for two months or two weeks "so we can help the Middle East countries to protect civilians."
Zelensky made his offer after cities across the Middle East, including Dubai, became a target for Iranian drone and missile barrages at the weekend as Tehran retaliated for U.S. and Israeli military strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top officials.
Russia has repeatedly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump's calls for a ceasefire in Ukraine in the past as Washington has sought to broker a peace deal, and it is unclear why Putin would agree to one now.
On Monday, the Russian dictator held a series of phone calls with leaders of Gulf states affected by Iranian attacks on Monday, including Bahrain, the UAE and Qatar. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Moscow was also "in constant contact with the Iranian leadership."
"For sure, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar have good relations, first of all economic, with Putin," Zelensky said. "We can help Israel in the same way."
As Ukrinform reported earlier, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that the United Kingdom planned to involve Ukrainian experts who, together with British specialists, will help the Gulf countries more effectively shoot down Iranian drones.
However, Zelensky said he had not received any request from Starmer regarding the involvement of Ukrainian experts in intercepting Iranian drones in the Persian Gulf.
Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine