Photo: facebook.com_zelenskyy.official
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine has sent three teams of specialists in countering Shahed drone attacks to the Middle East and hopes to receive PAC-3 interceptor missiles for its air defense systems in return.
According to the president, the teams are already prepared and will arrive this week in three countries — Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates.
“We have sent three professional and fully equipped teams. This week they will be in three different countries — Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE,” Zelenskyy said.
Possible exchange: PAC-3 missiles
Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine is raising the issue of obtaining PAC‑3 missile interceptors, which are used in MIM‑104 Patriot air defense systems.
“We are raising the issue of missiles that are in short supply for our air defense systems,” he said, recalling that Ukraine had previously proposed a “drone deal” with the United States that included interceptor drones and other technologies.
Ukraine’s experience with drone warfare
The Ukrainian leader emphasized that Ukraine has significant experience and production capacity in drone warfare, but these capabilities are not being fully utilized due to a lack of funding. Kyiv had previously offered these capabilities primarily to Washington.
According to Zelenskyy, countries in the Middle East now requesting assistance are effectively becoming part of the proposed international drone cooperation framework.
He added that many states that purchased interceptor drones later realized they do not work effectively without Ukrainian operators and software, highlighting the practical experience Ukrainian forces gained while defending against large-scale Russian drone attacks.
Earlier assistance to U.S. bases
Previously, Zelenskyy told The New York Times that Ukraine had already sent interceptor drones and expert teams to help protect U.S. military bases in Jordan.
Washington reportedly requested assistance on March 5, and the Ukrainian team departed the following day. Western media have also reported that the U.S. military is interested in Ukrainian low-cost interceptor drones, many of which cost only a few thousand dollars, making them far cheaper than traditional air-defense interceptors.
