KYIV, UKRAINE — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on March 8 that Kyiv’s drone specialists will deploy to the Middle East next week, aiming to trade expertise against Iranian drones for much-needed US PAC-3 air defense missiles amid supply fears from the escalating regional war.
Facing shortages of the costly US ammunition, Zelensky proposed on March 3 swapping Ukrainian drone interceptors, proven against Iranian-designed Shaheds used by Russia, for missiles to bolster Gulf allies. “Next week, when the experts are on site, they will look at the situation and help,” he stated during a press conference with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, stressing mutual benefits without revealing specifics.
Ukraine hails its midair drone hunters as world-leading, honed over four years of invasion. The Netherlands has funneled $870 million into Europe’s PURL program for US weapons to Kyiv, which Zelensky confirmed remains operational despite Middle East strains. No US or Gulf confirmation of the deal has surfaced, but winter delays in US supplies already exposed Ukrainian cities to devastating Russian strikes.