Zelenskiy holds talks with UAE, Qatar leaders


Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks to media after he shared an iftar, meal to break fast at sunset, during the holy month of Ramadan, with Ukrainian Muslim service members, near a mosque in Kyiv, Ukraine March 2, 2026. REUTERS/Alina Smutko

KYIV, March 3 (Reuters) - ⁠Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy discussed Iranian strikes ⁠with United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin ‌Zayed Al Nahyan and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.

Ukraine has great expertise in countering drones and missiles, ​honed over four years facing ⁠waves of Russian attacks.

"We ⁠discussed how we can help in this situation ⁠and ‌support the protection of lives. It was agreed that our teams will work ⁠on this," Zelenskiy said on X after ​a call ‌with the UAE leader.

The Ukrainian leader expressed ⁠solidarity with ​both nations.

After the call with al-Thani, Zelenskiy added that the Ukrainian and Qatari teams would remain ⁠in contact to "determine how we can ​jointly provide greater protection to people".

Kyiv officials have said that Ukraine would be ready to send ⁠drone specialists to the Middle East to help down Iranian drones if its partners help to broker a ceasefire in its war with Russia.

On ​Tuesday, Zelenskiy also said that ⁠Ukraine would be open to exchanging interceptor drones ​to repel Iranian attacks for ‌air defence missiles from ​the Middle East allies.

(Reporting by Yuliia Dysa; Editing by Ros Russell and Alex Richardson)

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