Zelenskyy meets Jordan’s king to discuss security partnership – the same Shaheds that hit Kyiv are now hitting Amman’s neighbors

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with King Abdullah II of Jordan on 29 March to discuss potential security partnerships and ways to counter regional threats, including drone and missile attacks, the president reported. Zelenskyy framed the talks as part of Ukraine’s broader effort to share expertise in defending critical infrastructure from aerial strikes.

The talks come amid a wider regional conflict involving Iran, which has escalated sharply after US and Israeli strikes in late February. Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks across the Gulf, heightening security concerns for countries like Jordan. 

Ukraine offers five years of hard-won drone defense experience

In a Telegram post, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is open to joint work to protect against drone and missile attacks, noting that without integrated systems, full protection of people and infrastructure is impossible. 

Kyiv has developed such systems through five years of defending against Russian strikes, including drones of Iranian design. The president said Ukraine can both offer expertise and benefit from support to strengthen its own defences.

He emphasized that Ukraine’s experience can contribute to regional security, allowing partners to protect civilians and infrastructure more effectively. 

“It is important that those to whom we offer our expertise can also help us strengthen our defences,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram, thanking King Abdullah for his openness to dialogue.

Broader Middle East situation also on the agenda

Zelenskyy also noted that the meeting touched on the broader situation in the Middle East and the Gulf. 

The Jordan visit follows engagements in other Gulf states, like Saudi Arabia, where Ukraine has been discussing defence collaboration and counter-drone strategies with regional partners.

The Ukrainian president positioned Kyiv as a practical partner in regional defence, drawing on its wartime experience against repeated drone and missile attacks to help allies manage similar threats.

Over 200 Ukrainian specialists already deployed across the Gulf

The visit comes as Ukraine has already deployed personnel to advise Gulf states on countering Iranian drones. More than 200 Ukrainian specialists are currently in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. 

These experts bring five years of experience defending against Russian and Iranian-designed drones, including the Shaheds that have struck Kyiv since 2022.