Finance
Zelenskiy says Ukraine wants money, technology in return for middle east drone help
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 15, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 15, 2026
Quick Summary
Ukraine, led by President Zelenskiy, is offering expertise and low‑cost interceptor drone technology to help Middle Eastern nations counter Iranian Shahed drone attacks in exchange for funding and advanced missile systems, particularly Patriot (PAC‑3) interceptors.
Ukraine Seeks Compensation for Drone Defense Assistance in Middle East
Ukraine's Role in Middle Eastern Drone Defense
KYIV, March 15 (Reuters) - Ukraine wants money and technology in return for helping Middle Eastern nations defend against Iranian kamikaze drones, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, after Kyiv sent specialists to four countries in the region.
Deployment of Ukrainian Specialists
Zelenskiy told reporters in comments cleared for release on Sunday that each of the three teams sent to the Middle East consisted of dozens of people, who will conduct expert assessments and demonstrate how drone defences should operate.
Expertise Sought by Gulf States
Gulf states have expended large quantities of air-defence missiles to counter Iran’s attack drones and have sought Ukraine's expertise in downing them. Kyiv downs Russian drones every night using an array of weaponry including cheaper, smaller drones or jamming equipment.
Global Demand for Ukrainian Assistance
Zelenskiy has said that almost a dozen countries across the world have sought help from Ukraine on how to counter these attacks.
Countries Receiving Ukrainian Aid
He said earlier this week that teams had been sent to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, while another official said specialists had also been to a U.S. military base in Jordan.
Clarification of Ukraine's Involvement
"This is not about being involved in operations. We are not at war with Iran," Zelenskiy said. "This is about protection and a thorough, complete assessment on our part of how to counter the Shaheds,” he added, referring to Shahed drones developed by Iran.
Compensation and Future Agreements
He said that what Ukraine will get in return for the assistance still needed to be discussed.
"Honestly, for us today, both the technology and the funding are important."
Potential U.S.-Ukraine Drone Cooperation
Zelenskiy also said that he was unsure whether Ukraine and the U.S. would sign a deal on drone co-operation, which Kyiv has sought to agree for months.
(Reporting by Max Hunder and Yuliia Dysa;Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)
Key Takeaways
- •Ukraine has deployed armed specialist teams to countries including Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and a U.S. base in Jordan to advise on drone defence and demonstrate operations. Zelenskiy says Ukraine isn’t at war with Iran but is offering protection and expertise. (apnews.com)
- •Ukrainian low-cost interceptor drones (about $1,000–$5,000 each) are highly effective against Iranian Shahed drones, which cost $20,000–$50,000, while traditional Patriot missiles cost millions. Ukraine aims to use this as leverage. (aljazeera.com)
- •In return for providing drone‑defence assistance, Ukraine is seeking money and advanced technology, especially U.S. Patriot PAC‑3 missiles, and is also awaiting U.S. approval on broader drone‑production cooperation. (newsukraine.rbc.ua)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Zelenskiy says Ukraine wants money, technology in return for Middle East drone help
1What does Ukraine want in return for helping Middle Eastern countries with drone defense?
Ukraine seeks both money and advanced technology in exchange for its assistance in defending against Iranian kamikaze drones.
2Which Middle Eastern countries has Ukraine sent drone defense specialists to?
Teams have been sent to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and a U.S. military base in Jordan.
3What is the main threat Ukraine is helping to counter in the Middle East?
Ukraine is providing expertise to counter Iranian Shahed kamikaze drones.
4Is Ukraine participating in military operations in the Middle East?
No, Ukraine is not involved in operations but is offering assessments and expert advice on drone defense.
5Is there a Ukraine-U.S. drone cooperation agreement?
As of now, it is unclear whether Ukraine and the U.S. will sign an agreement on drone cooperation.
