Zelenskiy seeks Gulf security ties as Middle East war reshapes Ukraine conflict
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in Saudi Arabia on March 26 for talks on regional security cooperation, offering Kyiv’s battlefield-honed drone defence expertise in exchange for military support, as the war in Iran reshapes the strategic landscape of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, reported Ukraine Business News.
Zelenskiy said he expected “important meetings” and expressed gratitude to partners willing to deepen cooperation. Ukrainian officials, cited by AFP, said Kyiv is preparing to sign an air security agreement with Riyadh, reflecting growing demand in the Gulf for counter-drone capabilities after attacks on energy infrastructure linked to the Iran conflict.
Kyiv has already dispatched more than 200 military specialists to countries including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to help defend against drone strikes. Zelenskiy has proposed a barter arrangement, offering Ukraine’s combat experience in exchange for access to scarce Western systems, particularly US-made Patriot interceptor missiles critical for countering high-speed ballistic threats.
The diplomatic push comes as the Middle East war alters calculations in both Kyiv and Moscow. According to analysts, rising global energy prices triggered by the conflict have boosted Russian revenues, easing economic pressure that had begun to weigh on the Kremlin earlier this year.
Journalist Mikhail Zygar said President Vladimir Putin had been considering renewed peace talks in early 2026 amid weakening economic indicators, including discounted oil sales and tightening credit conditions. Plans for a government reshuffle and shifts in economic management were reportedly under discussion. However, the outbreak of war in Iran reversed that trajectory.
“In one fell swoop, the conditions for reconciliation were violated,” Zygar said, pointing to higher oil prices and growing divisions among Western allies. Analysts caution that the boost to Russia’s finances may prove temporary, but in the short term it reduces incentives for compromise.
At the same time, Ukraine faces renewed uncertainty over military supplies. US officials are weighing whether to redirect some weapons originally intended for Kyiv to the Middle East, including air defence interceptors procured under Nato’s PURL mechanism. While no final decision has been taken, European diplomats say concerns are growing that US stockpiles are being stretched.
President Donald Trump said Washington frequently reallocates weapons globally and emphasised that the United States continues to sell arms to allies, who can then transfer them to Ukraine. Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte sought to reassure Kyiv, stating that deliveries of air defence systems and ammunition would continue without interruption.
Peace diplomacy remains fragile. Talks between Ukrainian and US delegations in Miami were described as constructive, but no breakthrough has been achieved. Washington has reportedly floated security guarantees for Ukraine contingent on Kyiv relinquishing control of the Donbas region, a proposal Zelenskiy has warned could undermine long-term regional stability.
European leaders have also voiced concern. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said any peace settlement should not force Ukraine into territorial concessions, while Nato officials stressed that decisions on sovereignty must rest with Kyiv.
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