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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is leveraging battlefield breakthroughs to strengthen alliances, particularly offering anti-drone technology to Middle Eastern partners while seeking enhanced air-defense systems as the conflict with Russia extends into its fourth year.
During a meeting in Abu Dhabi on Friday, Zelenskyy conferred with United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. They negotiated a potential agreement where Ukraine would supply its advanced counter-drone technology in return for ballistic missile assistance and financial backing.
Following this meeting, Zelenskyy shared insights in a comprehensive interview with Fox News, illustrating how Ukraine’s innovations on the battlefield, especially its anti-drone capabilities against Russia, are reshaping global defense collaborations.
“We possess drone interceptors, electronic warfare systems, and various other components—all integrated into a cohesive system. It’s something unique to us,” Zelenskyy explained to Matt Finn, a Fox News correspondent in Abu Dhabi.
“We have, for example, drone interceptors, we have [a] system of electronic warfare and a lot of things — All these jointly work in one system. This is what we have [that] nobody has,” Zelenskyy told Fox News correspondent Matt Finn in Abu Dhabi.
Ukraine is now sharing elements of that system with at least four Persian Gulf nations — the UAE, Qatar, Jordan and Saudi Arabia — as they confront growing threats from Iran’s drone capabilities.
But Zelenskyy emphasized the partnership must be reciprocal. Ukraine continues to face a “big deficit” of critical air defense weapons, particularly PAC-3 Patriot missiles used to intercept ballistic threats.
“We are ready to help Middle East countries with our expertise and with our knowledge, and we hope … that they can help with anti-ballistic missiles,” Zelenskyy said.
Ukraine has already signed 10-year defense agreements with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with a similar deal with the UAE expected soon, according to the AP.
A plume of smoke rises from the site of a strike in Tehran early on March 28, 2026. (ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty Images)
Zelenskyy also warned that increasing U.S. military focus on the Middle East — amid escalating tensions with Iran and the ongoing “Operation Epic Fury” — could slow the flow of weapons to Ukraine.
He claimed Russia is already strengthening Iran’s military by sharing drone technology, including Shahed “kamikaze” drones, as well as battlefield tactics developed during the war.
“Russia will share all they know about this war …  They’re already sharing with Iranians,” Zelenskyy said.Â
While he stopped short of confirming missile transfers, Zelenskyy suggested Moscow has a strategic interest in prolonging instability in the Middle East to divert U.S. attention away from Ukraine.
“This is what they do,” Zelenskyy said.
On the battlefield, Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine will not cede territory in the contested Donbas region, arguing it would weaken defenses, damage troop morale and displace tens of thousands of civilians.
“I think their morale will decrease,” Zelenskyy said.
He also urged the Trump administration not to lose sight of Ukraine while addressing Middle East tensions.
Destroyed homes after a Russian drone attack on March 28 in Odesa, Ukraine. (Viacheslav Onyshchenko/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
More than 270 Russian drones struck Ukraine overnight Friday, leaving at least five people dead, Ukrainian officials said Saturday, according to AP.
“I hope that President Trump … will find a way to end this war with pressure on the Iranian regime, and I hope that also they will not forget about … the war of Russia against Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said.