Finance
Zelenskiy Arrives in Saudi Arabia Seeking Security Cooperation
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 24, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 24, 2026
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Ukrainian President Zelenskiy arrived in Jeddah on April 24, 2026 for a second visit to Saudi Arabia this month, aiming to deepen security, energy, and infrastructure cooperation and build on an earlier defence pact focused on drone‑countering expertise.
Zelenskiy Visits Saudi Arabia to Boost Security and Financial Cooperation
Ukrainian President's Diplomatic Efforts in the Middle East
Arrival and Key Objectives
KYIV, April 24 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday arrived in Jeddah on his second visit to Saudi Arabia in a month, as Kyiv tries to bolster security cooperation and advertise its battle-tested technology in the Middle East amid the Iran war.
"Yesterday, at a meeting with European leaders, we secured financial guarantees for our resilience. Today, we are advancing our agreements with Saudi Arabia in the areas of security, energy, and infrastructure," Zelenskiy said on X upon arrival.
He added that he plans to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Zelenskiy himself did not mention the city, but Saudi state TV said he arrived in Jeddah.
Security and Defence Cooperation
Recent Agreements and Future Contracts
During his visit to Saudi Arabia in late May, Kyiv and Riyadh reached an agreement on defence cooperation that Zelenskiy described as laying a vast foundation for future contracts.
Technology and Expertise Exchange
In the wake of the Iran war, Ukraine secured deals with several Middle East partners as it offered technologies and expertise in downing Iranian long-range attack drones.
Zelenskiy later praised Ukraine's assistance as delivering results in the Middle East, and also offered Kyiv's expertise to help restore free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Reporting and Editorial Credits
(Reporting by Ahmed Elimam, Yuliia Dysa, Editing by William Maclean)
Key Takeaways
- •Zelenskiy’s visit to Jeddah seeks to solidify a recent March defence cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia centered on aerial threat technology and future contracts. (euronews.com)
- •Ukraine has deployed over 200 drone‑defence experts across the Gulf—including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar—to help counter Iranian attacks, in exchange for energy, financial support, and air‑defence resources. (euronews.com)
- •Zelenskiy frames these Gulf partnerships as strategic and practical security exports, promising technological collaboration, long‑term investments, and support for free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. (apnews.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Zelenskiy arrives in Saudi Arabia seeking security cooperation
1Why did Zelenskiy visit Saudi Arabia?
Zelenskiy visited Saudi Arabia to strengthen security cooperation and pursue agreements in energy and infrastructure.
2What agreements were reached between Ukraine and Saudi Arabia in May?
Ukraine and Saudi Arabia reached an agreement on defence cooperation that could lead to future contracts.
3How is Ukraine collaborating with Middle Eastern countries?
Ukraine is offering its battle-tested technology and expertise, particularly in countering Iranian long-range drones.
4What financial guarantees did Ukraine recently secure?
Ukraine secured financial guarantees for resilience during a recent meeting with European leaders.
5What expertise is Ukraine offering to help in the Middle East?
Ukraine is offering assistance to help restore free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and providing security technology.
