According to a report by Kyiv Independent on Wednesday, March 04, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on March 4 directed his government to prepare proposals to assist Gulf nations facing Iranian drone and missile attacks.
“Our military has the necessary capabilities,” Zelensky said. “Ukrainian experts will work on site, and teams are already negotiating this. We are ready to help protect lives, protect civilians.”
His remarks come as several Middle Eastern countries report extensive assaults involving Shahed-type attack drones, the same systems Russia has deployed widely against Ukraine since 2022.
Zelensky said he had spoken with leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan and Bahrain, and is preparing discussions with the leadership of Kuwait. “All of them face a serious threat, and they speak about it openly: Iranian attack drones. The same ‘Shaheds’ that strike our cities and villages, our Ukrainian infrastructure,” he said.
The president instructed Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, intelligence agencies, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and the military command to develop specific recommendations. “I have tasked our teams to present ways to support these countries and provide assistance in a manner that does not compromise our own defense here in Ukraine,” Zelensky added.
Regional tensions intensified on Feb. 28 after Israel and the United States carried out coordinated strikes on Iranian military facilities and senior leadership. Tehran, a close partner of Moscow that has supplied drones and other weapons for Russia’s war, subsequently launched retaliatory attacks against Israel and multiple Gulf states.
NATO air defense systems intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Iran toward Turkish airspace on March 4, the first such reported incident. The UAE said it had intercepted about 800 Iranian projectiles, while at least nine countries reported being targeted. Iranian launches have exceeded 800 missiles and 1,400 strike drones in recent days, according to official data.
The attacks have heightened concerns over regional stability and global energy markets, as threats to shipping routes contribute to oil and gas price volatility.