Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during his Gulf tour, announcing a bilateral agreement on security and defense cooperation, Zelenskyy reported on social media.
The UAE president thanked Ukraine for the work of its team already operating in the country, according to Zelenskyy's post. The two leaders discussed the security situation in the region, Iranian strikes, and the potential blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
"For Ukraine, this is also fundamentally important: terror must not prevail anywhere in the world. There must be enough protection everywhere. Therefore, we are open to joint work, which in the strategic perspective will definitely strengthen our peoples and the protection of life in our states," Zelenskyy wrote.
He thanked the UAE side for its "readiness to work together" and confirmed the two countries had reached an agreement. "Teams are finalizing the details," he added.
Ukrainian troops on the ground
Zelenskyy also met with Ukrainian military personnel who have been working in the UAE for several weeks, he said, "to provide assistance in protecting lives." Ukrainian experts have already held meetings with representatives of the UAE Security and Defense Forces.
"There is already a clear understanding of how the sky protection system and critical infrastructure in the Emirates can be strengthened by integrating Ukrainian experience. We are talking about comprehensive solutions that have proven their effectiveness," Zelenskyy said.
Among the Ukrainian military personnel shown in footage from the visit was Tymur Khromaiev, a serviceman of the 112th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade specializing in electronic warfare and drones. Volunteer Serhii Prytula previously stated that Khromaiev "was involved in developing one very cool system that is now being scaled" as part of Prytula's Foundation "Anti-Shahed" project. Khromaiev is also the husband of Ukrainian TV presenter Maria Yefrosinina.
Saudi Arabia visit
The UAE meeting followed Zelenskyy's visit to Saudi Arabia, where he met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and Ukrainian military experts working in the kingdom. The two countries' defense ministries signed a defense cooperation agreement covering technological cooperation and investments.
Zelenskyy said the document "lays the foundation for further contracts, technological cooperation and investments and strengthens Ukraine's international role as a security donor."
Earlier, Zelenskyy disclosed that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, and the United States had all approached Ukraine for expertise in air defense.
