Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to cooperate on defense and security, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on Saturday. The leaders met in person and said their teams would finalize the details of the cooperation, according to Zelenskiy’s Telegram post.
The discussions also covered potential areas of bilateral collaboration under the Comprehensive Economic Agreement, the Emirati state news agency WAM reported, without providing further specifics. Security developments and regional military escalation, as well as their impact on global trade and navigation, were also discussed.
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Zelenskiy recently visited Saudi Arabia, where Ukraine signed a defense cooperation deal with the Saudi defense ministry. He also traveled to Qatar on Saturday, aiming to strengthen security ties with key Gulf partners amid Iranian attacks.
Ukraine’s foreign minister said Kyiv is close to finalizing multiple security agreements, including with the UAE and Qatar, to counter Iranian threats. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for a missile attack on Dubai that targeted a Ukrainian air defense depot.
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The defense deals with Saudi Arabia and the UAE aim to expand technological cooperation, boost investments in defense infrastructure, and reinforce Ukraine’s global security role. Zelenskiy emphasized that these agreements will protect lives and share expertise.