Kyiv promptly responded to the US request and sent a team of experts along with interceptor drones. Ukraine also offers Middle East countries technology exchange and diplomatic support in putting pressure on Russia.
Ukraine has sent a team of drone specialists along with interceptor drones to help protect US military bases in Jordan, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with the New York Times, the PromPolitInform portal informs.
According to him, the United States appealed to Kyiv for help on Thursday, March 5, after which the decision was made almost immediately. The Ukrainian team left the very next day and should soon arrive in the Middle East.
“We reacted immediately. I said: yes, of course, we will send our experts,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The President explained that Ukraine is ready to help the countries of the Middle East, but at the same time it must take into account its own defense needs. Kyiv offered regional partners an exchange: Ukrainian interceptor drones – in exchange for more powerful systems that Ukraine needs to fight Russian ballistic missiles.
In addition, Ukraine expects diplomatic support from the states of the region in putting pressure on Russia in order to cease fire.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that some countries of the Middle East have close contacts with Moscow.
“That’s why I said, “Look, maybe they can talk to the Russians and the Russians will pause.” In this case, of course, we can help the Middle East protect them,” the president said.
Ukraine’s Role in the Operation in the Middle East
Earlier, CNN reported that at a closed briefing, US Secretary of Defense Pete Gegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Kane admitted: Iranian drones pose a much greater problem than expected, and the American air defense system is not able to intercept all such targets.
Meanwhile, the Financial Times wrote that the United States and at least one Persian Gulf country are negotiating the purchase of Ukrainian interceptor drones to protect against Iranian Shahed-type strike drones.
On March 5, Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine had received a request from the United States for assistance in countering Iranian drones in the Middle East. The President instructed “to provide the necessary means and ensure the presence of Ukrainian specialists.”
Photo – from open sources
