Kyiv [Ukraine], March 17 (ANI): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed recent warnings from Tehran, stating that Ukraine remains undeterred by what he described as the Iranian regime’s threats over Kyiv’s support for Gulf countries.
In a statement shared on social media, Zelenskyy characterized such rhetoric as routine. “This is nothing new. I have heard many different messages over the last four years,” he said, according to interviews with i24NEWS and The Jerusalem Post.
He emphasized that Ukraine’s involvement is focused on defensive assistance, noting that the United States and Middle Eastern leaders had requested help with drone interception systems. “They sought our expertise in air defense,” he said.
Zelenskyy underscored the non-offensive nature of the cooperation, stating that “air defense is not about offensive capabilities.” He added that Ukraine remains ready to provide expertise and defensive systems to enhance regional security.
Reiterating Kyiv’s stance, Zelenskyy said the country would not be intimidated. “We are not afraid of any messages of the kind. We have heard such messages every day for the last four years, for 12 years, to be precise. It’s not new for us,” he said.
Ukraine is also seeking financial compensation and technological partnerships in return for deploying specialists to the Middle East, where teams have assisted in countering Iranian drone threats amid the ongoing conflict involving Israel, the United States, and Iran.
According to Al Jazeera, Zelenskyy said three specialist teams were sent to the region to conduct assessments and demonstrate drone defense systems. The deployment comes as several Middle Eastern nations face continued targeting due to their hosting of US military installations.
Clarifying the mission, Zelenskyy said the move does not indicate direct military involvement. “This is not about being involved in operations. We are not at war with Iran,” he stated.
Last week, Ukraine deployed personnel to locations including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and a US military base in Jordan. Zelenskyy is also pursuing long-term drone agreements with Gulf nations, though details remain under discussion.
“For us today, both the technology and the funding are important,” he said.
During the ongoing conflict with Russia, Ukraine has gained extensive experience countering Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones, using interceptors, electronic jamming systems, and anti-aircraft defenses.
Despite this, US President Donald Trump has indicated that Washington does not require Ukrainian assistance to counter Iranian drone threats. Zelenskyy said he remains uncertain why a proposed drone agreement with the United States has not been finalized. “I wanted to sign a deal worth about $35 billion to $50 billion,” he said.
Zelenskyy also expressed concern that escalating tensions in the Middle East could affect the supply of air defense missiles to Ukraine. “We would very much not like the United States to step away from the issue of Ukraine because of the Middle East,” he said.
Amid growing global interest in Ukraine’s drone technology, Zelenskyy called for stricter procurement regulations to prevent foreign entities from bypassing the Ukrainian government.
“Unfortunately, representatives of certain governments or companies want to bypass the Ukrainian state to purchase specific equipment,” he said, adding that such agreements typically proceed through official political channels before private sector negotiations. (ANI)
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