On March 27, during a visit to Saudi Arabia, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the signing of a defense cooperation agreement between Ukraine and Saudi Arabia. The agreement was finalized prior to his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud in Jeddah.
Zelensky emphasized that the agreement lays the groundwork for future contracts, technological collaboration, and investments, enhancing Ukraine’s international role as a security contributor. He stated, “We are ready to share our expertise and systems with Saudi Arabia and collaborate to enhance the protection of lives. For five years, Ukrainians have been fighting against similar terrorist attacks using ballistic missiles and drones, which the Iranian regime is currently executing in the Middle East and Gulf region. Saudi Arabia possesses interests that align with Ukraine’s. This cooperation can be mutually beneficial.”
In addition to the defense agreement, discussions during the meeting also covered the broader situation in the Middle East and the Gulf region, including the Iranian regime’s support from Russia, issues surrounding fuel markets, and potential energy cooperation.
On March 26, Zelensky had announced his arrival in Saudi Arabia, indicating that important meetings were scheduled, although he did not provide further details about the visit, which had not been publicly announced in advance.
Earlier in March, President Zelensky mentioned that Ukraine would assist Middle Eastern countries in defending against Iranian attacks, with Ukrainian experts deployed on-site. On March 17, he reported that 201 Ukrainian experts specializing in countering Iranian Shahed drones were already in the Middle East and Gulf region, with an additional 34 prepared for deployment. Specifically, he noted that a Ukrainian team is operating in Saudi Arabia.
Zelensky has proposed a “quiet exchange” of assistance to Middle Eastern nations, seeking missiles for air defense systems in return.
Ukraine and Saudi Arabia have formalized a defense cooperation agreement aimed at enhancing mutual security. The discussions also touched on regional stability and potential energy collaborations, reflecting Ukraine's strategic outreach in the Middle East.