Zelensky sets condition for sending Ukrainian drone operators to Middle East

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv is willing to send drone operators to Middle Eastern countries to counter Iranian drones, according to a phone interview with Bloomberg.

Zelensky stated that the preliminary condition for such assistance would be mediation by Middle Eastern leaders to negotiate a temporary ceasefire with Russia in Ukraine. “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,” he said.

The president noted that the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar maintain strong, primarily economic, ties with Vladimir Putin. Once a truce is achieved, Ukraine is ready to deploy “best operators of drone interceptors to the Middle East countries” to protect the region from attacks. Zelenskyy added that the ceasefire could last anywhere from two weeks to two months.

He also said that similar assistance could be provided to Israel.