Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv could provide defense systems and aid to civilians and American soldiers “deployed in some countries” in the Middle East as the war in Iran continues.
He also reportedly proposed an exchange of Ukrainian defense technology to counter Iranian drones in return for advanced US defense systems to be used in a war against Russia.
The US-Israel-Iran conflict, which began 10 days ago when the US and Israel attacked Iran and killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, continues to escalate. Iran has responded with attacks on Israeli and US military assets and other infrastructure in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
As Gulf and other Middle Eastern states try to intercept incoming drones and missiles with US-provided air defenses, the US has asked Ukraine to provide some air-defense systems of its own.
Here’s what we know.
What has the US requested from Ukraine and why?
Ukraine’s president confirmed last week that the US had asked for Ukraine’s help in defending Washington’s allies in the Middle East against Iranian missile attacks on infrastructure and US military assets.
Currently, the US is using air defense systems such as Patriot, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) batteries and Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft to intercept Iranian drones and missiles targeting its military assets in the region. Patriot Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2) and PAC-3 are advanced surface-to-air missile defense systems.
However, these types of systems are extremely expensive, costing millions of dollars to fire each interceptor, and there are concerns that the US supply of interceptor missiles could be depleted.
“We have received a request from the United States for specific support for defense against the ‘Shahed’ in the Middle East region,” Zelensky wrote in the X Post on March 5.
Shahed drones, specifically the Shahed-136, are Iranian-designed “kamikaze” or hovering munitions that are much less expensive than the interceptors used by the US. Costing roughly $20,000-$35,000 each, these GPS-guided drones are about 3.5m (11.5 feet) long and fly autonomously to pre-programmed coordinates to hit fixed targets with explosive payloads. They explode when they hit their targets.
During the Iran war, Shahed-136 drones targeted Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE, where US military assets and troops were hosted. Experts estimate that there are thousands of these drones in Iran.
Iran has been supplying Moscow with thousands of Shahed drones during Russia’s war on Ukraine.
During Russia’s four-year war on Ukraine, Ukraine’s domestic arms industry was forced to build low-cost interceptor drones costing about $1,000 to $2,000 to counter Russian attacks with imported Iranian Shahed-136s.
Kyiv is now mass-producing these low-cost interceptor drones.
“The role of Shahed-type drones in long-range attacks has become increasingly important in Ukraine after Russia took Iranian technology, improved it and built it in previously unimaginable numbers,” Keir Giles, a Eurasia expert at UK-based think tank Chatham House, told Al Jazeera.
What did Zelensky say?
Zelensky has posted several statements on social media saying that Middle Eastern countries are ready to help defend their territories by providing technical expertise.
“Ukrainians have been fighting against ‘Shahed’ drones for years now and everyone recognizes that no other country in the world has had this kind of experience. We are ready to help,” he wrote on X on March 5.
“I have given instructions to provide the necessary means and ensure the presence of Ukrainian experts who will guarantee the required security.
“Ukraine supports partners who help ensure our security and protect the lives of our people.”
It is known that Ukraine is in talks with several Middle Eastern countries about this.
On Monday, Zelensky said Ukraine had deployed interceptor drones and a team of experts to help protect US military bases in Jordan.
Zelenskyy also spoke directly with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) about “countering threats from the Iranian regime,” X wrote.
He said he had spoken to the leaders of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE.
Zelenskyy has repeatedly emphasized that Ukraine should not weaken its own air defenses. However, it is now mass-producing this equipment and can afford to share it.
“The fact that additional capabilities are ready to be sent to the US and the Middle East is not surprising because Ukraine led this innovation,” Giles said.
Zelenskyy has therefore proposed an exchange of air defense systems with the US in use in the Middle East.
“We are at war. And I said that we lack what they have. They have missiles for the Patriots, but hundreds or thousands of ‘Shahed’ cannot be intercepted with Patriot missiles – it is too expensive,” Zelensky said.
“Meanwhile, we are short of PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles. So, when it comes to technology or arms exchange, I believe our country will be open to it.”
Analysts say Zelenskyy may have good political reasons for extending aid.
“The US has denied support to Ukraine for not having an adequate supply of air defense munitions, and now more Patriots have been fired in the Middle East in a few days than have been supplied to Ukraine in four years,” Giles said.
“Zelensky knows that in providing this assistance, he is not only embarrassing the U.S., but directly supporting potential friends and partners in the Middle East who have previously been ambivalent about the situation in Ukraine,” Giles said.
Who else sent defensive backup to the Gulf?
European countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy, pledged last week to provide defense backup to the Gulf states. Additionally, Australia said it would deploy military assets to the region.
European nations, wary of direct involvement in a US-Israeli war over Iran, have nevertheless been drawn into the conflict by attacks on the British base of Cyprus in the Mediterranean and Iranian attacks on Western allies in the Gulf by hosting US forces on military bases.
What happens next?
As Ukraine engages in war, so may Russia, experts say.
“With Russian technology in Iranian drones, we shouldn’t be surprised if before long we see Iran launching Russian-made Shaheds,” Giles said.
He described Russia as the “primary beneficiary of current US actions”, noting how the rise in oil prices, easing of US sanctions on Russian energy exports to keep crude and gas prices under control, and the diversion of air defense munitions from Europe to the Middle East helped Moscow. These are “all the lifelines of Russia,” he said.
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