Zelenskyy: Ukraine has requests for security cooperation from Iraq and African states, new agreements in Europe possible this week
Ukraine is in communication regarding the development of security cooperation with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Turkey, Syria, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain, and has also received relevant requests from Iraq and African countries, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
"We have requests regarding cooperation with Iraq. Today we discussed the potential for joint work with the states of the Caucasus, as well as East and Southeast Asia. There are substantive requests from African states," Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram following a briefing by National Security and Defence Council Secretary Rustem Umerov on the results of the first phase of work with partners in the Middle East and Gulf region.
The president also said that the groundwork was being laid "for deeper security agreements in Europe as well." "We expect to achieve results as early as this week," Zelenskyy added.
He said he had instructed Umerov "to finalise the drafts of several new security agreements and prepare them for signing."
"It is important that Ukrainian military expertise is being recognised, and the combat experience of our soldiers is becoming a strong part of partners’ defence. Every nation deserves security, and we are ready to promptly and effectively support those who support our state and independence. This concerns protection against strike and other types of drones in the sky, as well as addressing security tasks at sea - Ukraine’s experience in the Black Sea can be applied to other globally important sea lanes," Zelenskyy wrote.
As reported, the Ukrainian president made a series of visits to Middle Eastern countries in March. The Presidential Office highlighted the head of state’s diplomatic activity in the Middle East following the outbreak of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
"In Jeddah, an agreement on defence cooperation was signed between the defence ministries of Ukraine and Saudi Arabia. The document lays the groundwork for further contracts, technological cooperation and investment… In Abu Dhabi, the presidents of Ukraine and the UAE agreed on cooperation in the field of security and defence… In Doha, the President of Ukraine and the Emir of Qatar agreed on a mutually beneficial partnership in the defence sphere for at least 10 years. The chiefs of general staff of Ukraine and Qatar signed a defence cooperation agreement… In Amman, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and King Abdullah II discussed a possible security partnership," the Office said.
On March 30, Zelenskyy announced agreements he described as historic — between Ukraine and Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
As of early April, work with Jordan was also ongoing, along with contacts with Turkey, Kuwait, Iraq and Bahrain, and interest in Ukrainian capabilities had been reported from other countries outside the Middle East.
