Zelenskyy Says US, Gulf States Seek Ukraine’s Help in Middle East War

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has revealed that the United States and several Gulf nations have asked Ukraine for assistance in protecting military bases in the Middle East amid ongoing Iranian missile and drone strikes.

In a statement posted on X on Thursday, Zelenskyy said Washington had approached Kyiv specifically about its bases in the region, while Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait had also made contact.

“The United States has reached out to us regarding their bases in Middle Eastern countries. We’ve also been approached by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait,” he wrote.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine had already deployed expert teams to assess needs and share experience gained from defending against Russian aerial attacks.

“We’re already working with some of them, and our expert teams are already on the ground, assessing the situation and sharing invaluable experience,” he said.

He noted that conventional systems such as Patriots and THAADs were insufficient against modern drone swarms.

“Because no matter how many Patriots, THAADs, or other air defence systems are in the Middle East, that alone is not enough for fully effective air defence. There are modern interceptors designed to counter heavy drone strikes,” Zelenskyy stated.

The Ukrainian leader added that discussions were under way on possible equipment transfers that could benefit both sides.

“Now, we are discussing future deliveries of certain equipment that Ukraine has. We want Middle Eastern countries to give us the opportunity to strengthen ourselves as well. They have some air defence missiles that we lack,” he said.

The outreach comes as Iranian strikes have forced thousands of US troops to relocate from traditional bases to hotels and other temporary sites, according to US officials.