Zelenskyy to send drone experts to Gulf as Ukraine eyes US air defence missiles

Kiev offers its drone interception technology to help Gulf states counter Iranian drones while seeking US PAC-3 air defence missiles as Ukraine faces shortages.

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Ukrainian President Zelenskyy visiting the main command post of the 100th Separate Mechanized Brigade, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. / AFP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Kiev's drone experts will be "on site" in the Middle East next week, as he seeks US air defence missiles in exchange for drone expertise.

Ukraine is facing a shortage of the expensive US PAC-3 air defence ammunition, and Kiev fears a longer Middle East war could disrupt supplies even further.

Zelenskyy on Tuesday offered US allies in the Middle East to swap some of their air defence missiles for Ukrainian drone interceptors, which he said would better protect them from Iranian drone attacks.

When asked how exactly he wants to help the United States and its Gulf allies repel the drones, Zelenskyy said, "It is too early to say anything else at this stage."

"I think that next week, when the experts are on site, they will look at the situation and help," he added.

"We would very much like this to be an opportunity for both sides," Zelenskyy told a press conference after a meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten.

The Netherlands is an important donor to the PURL programme through which Europe buys US weapons for Ukraine, so far contributing $870 million to it.

Zelenskyy earlier said the PURL was still functioning despite the outbreak of the war in the Middle East.

There was no official confirmation, either from the US or from the Gulf states, that they sought help from Ukraine.

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Russia has been using Iranian-designed Shahed drones throughout its four-year war with Ukraine, and Kiev has developed a range of cheap and effective drone interceptors against them.

Ukraine claims that the interceptors, aircraft designed to hit incoming attack drones mid-air, are world-leading.

A delay in US missile supplies during winter made Ukraine's civil infrastructure more vulnerable to widespread Russian air strikes that left hundreds of thousands without heating in freezing temperatures.