To help Middle East nations fight drones, Ukraine wants cash and tech

Ukraine wants money and technology in return for helping Middle Eastern nations defend against Iranian kamikaze drones, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, after Kyiv ‌sent specialists to four countries in the region.

Zelensky told reporters in comments cleared for release on Sunday that each of the three teams sent to the Middle East consisted of dozens of people who will conduct expert assessments and demonstrate how drone defences should operate.

Gulf states have ⁠expended large quantities of air-defence missiles to counter Iran’s attack drones and have ‌sought Ukraine’s expertise in downing them.

Kyiv downs Russian drones every night using an array of weaponry including cheaper, smaller drones or ‌jamming equipment.

Zelensky has said that almost a dozen countries across the world ⁠have sought ⁠help from Ukraine on how to counter drone attacks.

He also told reporters that Ukraine does not want to lose US support for its struggle against Russia as a result of Washington’s war with Iran.