Zelensky says Ukrainian drone experts to be deployed to the Middle East next week

Ukrainian President Zelensky said on Sunday that Kyiv’s drone specialists will be “on site” in the Middle East “next week,” as he seeks U.S. air defence missiles in exchange for drone expertise.

Ukraine is facing a shortage of the expensive US PAC-3 air defence ammunition and Kyiv fears a longer Middle East war could disrupt supplies even further. Zelensky on March 3 offered US allies in the Middle East to swop some of their air defence missiles for Ukrainian drone interceptors, which he said would better protect them from Iranian drone attacks.

The Netherlands is an important donor to the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List programme through which Europe buys US weapons for Ukraine, so far contributing US$870 million to it.