Zelensky hails 'historic' defence agreements with Gulf states

© Amiri Diwan, Reuters
by FRANCE 24
March 30, 2026
3 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Ukrainian President Zelensky signed defense agreements with Gulf states to exchange drone-defense knowledge for air-defense missiles.

AI Summary

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Monday that he has signed "historic" defence agreements with Gulf states, including arrangements to share Ukrainian expertise on neutralizing drone threats. The deals represent a strategic exchange in which Ukraine would provide knowledge of its drone-interception capabilities in return for Gulf air-defence missile systems. Iran's ongoing missile and drone strikes against both Ukrainian and Gulf targets have created mutual vulnerability that spurred the negotiations. The agreements expand Ukraine's international military support network beyond Western allies and give Gulf nations access to Ukrainian battlefield experience in countering Iranian aerial attacks. The arrangement reflects a shift in Ukraine's defence strategy toward leveraging its combat expertise as a negotiating asset.

What's Being Done

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced signing historic defense agreements with Gulf states.

Source Coverage Map

5 of 43 tracked sources covered this story

12% coverage
Did Not Cover (38)
ICIJ97AP World News96AP News96AP US News96ProPublica95+33 more

Following this story?

Get notified when new coverage appears

Other Sources Covering This Story

5 sources

Multiple outlets have reported on this story. Compare perspectives from different sources.

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

Ukraine, Saudi sign air defence deal during Zelensky surprise visit
Global

Ukraine, Saudi sign air defence deal during Zelensky surprise visit

Ukraine and Saudi Arabia have signed an air defence agreement during President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the Gulf country facing Iranian drone attacks. Zelensky confirmed on social media that both countries had "reached an important arrangement" on defence cooperation and that he had met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his visit.

AFP / France 24Mar 27
Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy says US has linked security guarantees to ceding of Donbas
Global

Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy says US has linked security guarantees to ceding of Donbas

<p>Ukrainian president says peace deal proposed by US included ceding land to Russia. What we know on day 1,492</p><p><strong>The US is making its offer of security guarantees for a peace deal in Ukraine conditional on Kyiv ceding all of the country’s eastern region of Donbas to Russia, </strong>president Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Reuters in an interview. With the US focused on its own conflict with Iran, Donald Trump is applying pressure to Ukraine in an effort to bring a quick end to the four-year war triggered by Russia’s 2022 invasion, Zelenskyy said. “The Middle East definitely has an impact on President Trump, and I think on his next steps. President Trump, unfortunately, still chooses a strategy of putting more pressure on the Ukrainian side,” he told Reuters. “I would very much like the American side to understand that the eastern part of our country is part of our security guarantees,” he said.</p><p><strong>Russia sought to blackmail the US by offering to stop sharing milit...

The Guardian World NewsMar 26
Ukraine looks to leverage its help to Gulf states fighting Iran drones in exchange for interceptors - Fortune
Global

Ukraine looks to leverage its help to Gulf states fighting Iran drones in exchange for interceptors - Fortune

FortuneMar 28
Supreme Court mulls limiting mail-in ballots, forcing states to prepare for changes
Politics

Supreme Court mulls limiting mail-in ballots, forcing states to prepare for changes

States are already preparing for the possibility that the Supreme Court could eliminate grace periods for mail-in ballots received after Election Day, which could pose unexpected consequences for this year’s midterm elections and beyond. The high court on Monday weighed the lawfulness of a Mississippi statute that allows ballots postmarked by Election Day but received five business days afterward to still be counted. More than a dozen states…

The HillMar 28
Trump to revoke protections for endangered species in Gulf of Mexico
Environment

Trump to revoke protections for endangered species in Gulf of Mexico

<p>President is convening so-called ‘God squad’ to override provisions of Endangered Species Act for ‘national security’</p><p>Donald Trump is <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/03/16/2026-05242/endangered-species-committee-meeting-announcement">dispatching</a> a so-called “God squad” of top officials to revoke protections for endangered species in the Gulf of Mexico, purportedly to protect national security by expanding oil and gas industry operations.</p><p>If successful, the administration may kill off dozens of protected species – from Rice’s whales and whooping cranes to sea turtles.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/30/trump-protections-endangered-species-gulf-of-mexico">Continue reading...</a>

The Guardian US NewsMar 30
Ukraine's drone defense tech reshapes combat as warfare evolves
Technology

Ukraine's drone defense tech reshapes combat as warfare evolves

Earlier this month, President Trump told journalists he didn't want Ukraine's assistance with drone defense, saying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was the last person he'd ever ask for help. But during the Iran war, Gulf countries have been lining up to request Ukraine's guidance on how to counter drones. Special correspondent Simon Ostrovsky reports from Ukraine.

PBS NewsHourMar 27
Read Next
Trump threatens to destroy Iran's desalination plants. Here’s what that could mean for the Mideast - AP News
Global

Trump threatens to destroy Iran's desalination plants. Here’s what that could mean for the Mideast - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiowFBVV95cUxNbEVCYW5qYUdxR3NzckpSeXBTd0lNV3cyMzdnSWJuOGYwOE9nSDh4ck9uMUh3N0duTUtndjlYNTNjQWJaU2Z6anc4MVNUS2x4aXpHdF9QZnZiZVNxTER1WktTQTdkWkxtOWJLc0E3Q2s4T3BkV0ZtVWY5bnFJdjV3NkxIbGRfRjlNSWY3QjdzNDcxRzl2RmYyWVk3OFRKUUVONVdV?oc=5" target="_blank">Trump threatens to destroy Iran's desalination plants. Here’s what that could mean for the Mideast</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources