Post #21872

#UAE, #Ukraine discuss defense cooperation agreement Addis Abeba — Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are finalizing an agreement on “security and defence” cooperation following talks with uAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. In a post on Telegram, Zelenskyy said the two sides are working toward a strategic partnership. “We are open to joint work, which in a strategic perspective will definitely strengthen our people and the protection of life in our states,” he said. The discussions come amid growing interest among Gulf countries in Ukraine’s defense capabilities, particularly its battlefield-tested drone technologies. Ukraine has emerged as a key producer of advanced drone interceptors, developed in response to sustained aerial attacks since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, during which Russia has deployed large numbers of Iranian-made drones targeting Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv. Photo: February 2025 archive