Zelenskyy: Ukraine offers profitable security partnership, not arms sell-off
Ukraine is not selling off its weapons or emptying its stockpiles, but is offering long-term and profitable security partnership, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.
"But we are building new weapons cooperation with partners not the way it was done in the 1990s or 2000s, when Ukrainian weapons and strength were sold off like on Black Friday. We are not holding a fair of our weapons and not emptying our warehouses. We are offering security partnership that is long-term and profitable for Ukraine," Zelenskyy said in an address marking Ukrainian Defense Industry Worker's Day.
He said Ukrainian interceptors are already operating in the Middle East and Gulf countries, and a strong integrated sky protection system involving many components is being created.
"Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar have their own air defense against ballistic and other missiles, but together with our military expertise they have a solution to defend themselves against Shahed UAVs, to detect this threat and respond at scale. Ukraine knows how to provide all of this - radar coverage, the necessary electronic warfare systems, communication between air defense components and the interception itself," the head of state said.
He also said Ukraine is in contact with Kuwait, Oman, Turkey and Syria, while countries in Asia and Africa are also interested in Ukraine's experience.
"Ukraine is a global producer of strength and security. That is how it is and that is how it will be. And all this is not a gift from Ukraine. Long-term security agreements in the Middle East mean money for our state every year. It is fuel for Ukraine in conditions of global instability," Zelenskyy said.
He also announced talks with Europeans on creating a joint sky protection system.
"I am sure that either Ukraine will become an integral part of the European security system, or some in Europe risk becoming part of the Russian world," Zelenskyy said.
According to him, Ukraine also has the most up-to-date experience in ensuring maritime security.
"No one else has carried out the kind of tasks Ukrainians performed in the Black Sea. When people talk about security in the Strait of Hormuz, these are often theoretical discussions. Those holding them have not carried out similar operations themselves," the president said.
"We fought an enemy fleet, air strikes and sea mines. We have gone through all of this. And if partners offer us equal cooperation, Ukraine can help," he said.
