Ukraine has received 11 requests from countries neighboring Iran, as well as the United States and Europe, to help shoot down drones fired by Tehran, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday (9), after a week of conflict in the Middle East.
Kiev seeks to draw on its vast experience in the , while pressing its allies for more weapons capable of shooting down ballistic missiles fired in Russian airstrikes against their cities.
“There is a clear interest in Ukraine’s experience in protecting lives, relevant interceptors, electronic warfare systems and training,” Zelensky wrote on the social network X after a national security meeting.
I held a Staff meeting. Our primary focus was the destabilization caused by the war in Iran and the corresponding risks for global markets, the countries of the region, and Ukraine’s closest partners who support us in defending against Russian aggression. The issue is complex –…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Volodymyr Zelensky (@ZelenskyyUa)
“Ukraine is ready to respond positively to the requests of those who help us protect the lives of Ukrainians and the independence of Ukraine.”
He added that some requests were met with “concrete decisions and specific support”, without providing further details.
Zelensky had previously told the New York Times that Ukraine sent interceptor drones and one to protect American military bases in Jordan, following a request from Washington on Thursday (5).
Interceptor drones — which cost, at most, a few thousand dollars each — are seen as an efficient way to neutralize attacks from drones like the Russian-made Shahed, and Ukrainian defense companies are ramping up production with an eye on export.
The United States and Qatar were in talks to purchase Ukrainian interceptor drones, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters news agency last week.
Zelensky added that Ukraine “will determine what additional requests our state can respond to positively without reducing our own defense capability.”
