Ukraine and Saudi Arabia have signed a new air defence agreement during the visit of Volodymyr Zelensky to the kingdom.
Senior officials confirmed that both sides reached the deal on Thursday, focusing on strengthening defence systems against drone attacks.
Deal Focuses on Countering Drone Attacks
The agreement comes as both countries face threats from Iranian-designed Shahed drones.
While Ukraine has spent years countering Russian drone strikes, Saudi Arabia has also experienced similar threats in the Gulf region.
Therefore, Kyiv aims to transfer its battlefield experience to help strengthen Saudi Arabia’s air defence capabilities.
According to officials, Ukraine will assist Saudi Arabia in building key air defence components.
The cooperation will include system integration, electronic warfare tools, artificial intelligence, and advanced data analysis.
As a result, the partnership will go beyond basic interceptors to develop a comprehensive defence system.
At the same time, Ukraine hopes to gain access to advanced air-defence missiles used by Gulf nations.
So far, Kyiv has relied on low-cost interceptors, electronic jamming systems, and anti-aircraft guns to defend against Russian attacks.
However, it now seeks more advanced systems to counter missile threats more effectively.
Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the deal after meeting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
He described the agreement as mutually beneficial.
“We are ready to share our expertise and systems with Saudi Arabia,” he said.
Furthermore, Zelensky noted that Saudi Arabia also possesses capabilities that could benefit Ukraine.
Although he did not reveal full details, he stressed that both countries stand to gain from the partnership.
The deal highlights growing global cooperation in air defence as drone warfare becomes more widespread.
At the same time, it reflects Ukraine’s effort to leverage its combat experience while strengthening ties with key international partners.
