During an official visit to London on March 17, President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a speech to the British Parliament, emphasizing Ukraine’s trust in the UK and discussing military collaborations in the Middle East.
Zelensky expressed gratitude for the support from the British government and its citizens, stating that this fosters trust among Ukrainians. He remarked,
“When Ukrainians think of the United Kingdom, they know they can trust it… I am grateful that you genuinely care about what happens to our cities, our country, Europe, and our world…”
The President highlighted the evolving nature of warfare, noting the significance of drones and artificial intelligence. He stated,
“No one can predict where this evolution will lead. But we must keep pace with it, and more importantly, we must stay ahead. People want certainty, and that is always the strongest demand any society places on its leaders.”
Regarding military presence in the Middle East, Zelensky revealed that 201 Ukrainian military experts are currently deployed in the region, with an additional 34 ready for assignment. He noted their presence in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and en route to Kuwait, responding to requests from partners, including the United States. He described this as part of a broader agreement involving drone technology, stating,
“We are ready to offer similar agreements to all our partners, from practical cooperation in drones to future defense alliances.”
Zelensky also pointed out that Ukraine possesses clear evidence of Iranian drones containing Russian components. He stated,
“The Iranian ‘Shaheds’ used in the region contain Russian components… What is happening around Iran is not a distant war for us due to the cooperation between Russia and Iran.”
He characterized the regimes in Russia and Iran as
“brothers in hatred,”
and reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to countering threats posed by such regimes. He remarked,
“We do not want any regime based on hatred to prevail in anything. We do not wish for such a regime to threaten Europe or our partners.”
In discussing defense strategies against Iranian drones, Zelensky highlighted Ukraine’s cost-effective approach, stating,
“In Ukraine, we stop one such drone with two or three interceptors, which cost less than $10,000 in total. Our approach is much more economical than anything our partners are currently using.”
The President urged international partners to collaborate on building a security system that anticipates the evolution of warfare, including threats from non-state actors and terrorist groups. He explained,
“Mass attacks with drones no longer cost billions. They are much cheaper. It’s not just a wealthy madman like Putin who can afford this.”
As an example of innovative security measures, Zelensky mentioned the use of iPads equipped with software for real-time security monitoring. He explained,
“We have such iPads. One is with me, one with our Prime Minister, and one with our Defense Minister. This allows us to see the situation at the front and even track enemy casualties with video evidence.”
He concluded by stating that 90% of Russian army losses on the front lines are attributed to Ukrainian drones, underscoring the importance of maintaining an advantage in drone warfare.
President Zelensky's address to the UK Parliament focused on Ukraine's trust in Britain, military collaborations in the Middle East, and the evolving nature of warfare involving drones. He emphasized the need for a proactive security strategy and highlighted Ukraine's effective defense measures against threats.