Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says nearly 20 countries are engaged at various stages in talks over drone and defence cooperation with Ukraine, and four formal agreements have already been signed. He told followers on X that the first contracts under those agreements are now being prepared.
Since the outbreak of the Iran war in late February, Zelenskiy has used Ukraine’s expertise in drone warfare to secure a string of diplomatic and security arrangements across the Middle East and Europe. In April, Kyiv concluded defence and drone deals with Germany, Norway and the Netherlands. Late in March, Ukraine announced long-term security partnerships with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Ukraine also signed agreements with Azerbaijan in the past month covering defence and energy cooperation. Zelenskiy said Ukraine will begin security cooperation under its drone agreements with another region of the world, without naming the area.
He added that the new pacts have already helped Ukraine obtain necessary volumes of fuel, without providing further detail. Zelenskiy has said his so-called drone diplomacy aims not only to strengthen security ties but also to secure energy supplies and open markets abroad for Ukrainian agricultural exports.
Details on the yet-to-be-named partners and the specific terms of the contracts are still being prepared, according to the Ukrainian president.
