Ukraine offers arms to its partners in exchange for air defence missiles – Zelenskyy

Ukraine is discussing the future supply of its own defence solutions and is counting on receiving air defence missiles from Middle Eastern countries.

Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on X (Twitter), citing his latest interview with Le Monde

Quote: "Now, we are discussing future deliveries of certain equipment that Ukraine has. We want Middle Eastern countries to give us the opportunity to strengthen ourselves as well. They have some air defence missiles that we lack. We would like to reach agreements on this."

Details: Zelenskyy clarified that the United States has approached Ukraine regarding the protection of its bases in the Middle East. Requests have also come from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait.

According to Zelenskyy, cooperation with some of the countries is already underway: Ukrainian expert teams are on the ground, assessing the situation and sharing their experience.

The president stressed that, regardless of the number of Patriot, THAAD or other air defence systems deployed in the Middle East, they will not be sufficient for fully effective air defence operations.

"There are modern interceptors designed to counter heavy drone strikes," he added.

Zelenskyy also noted that Ukraine's defence industry is operating at only half capacity and requires additional funding.

"Funding is the scarcest resource today. Our defence industry is currently operating at half capacity, and we need more financing to produce drones for ourselves. That's why we are ready to sell to our partners the systems we have in surplus," he said.

Zelenskyy added that Ukraine will not only sell these systems but also share its expertise, noting that interceptor drones only function effectively as part of the complete system.

Background: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier that 11 requests for Ukraine's support in countering Shahed drones and similar threats had come from a range of countries, specifically those neighbouring Iran and European nations and the US, all of which are interested in Ukraine's experience.

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