- March 18, 2026
- 10:31 pm
- Middle East
Ukraine is expanding its presence in the Middle East not only as a recipient of aid but also as a supplier of military expertise. This is about a specific deal of interests: Kyiv sends specialists to protect infrastructure and facilities from Iranian UAVs, and in return, expects political, sanction, and investment support.
According to official statements, more than 200 Ukrainian experts are already in the region, with several dozen more preparing for deployment. The geography is the Persian Gulf: UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. This is not a symbolic presence, but practical work in a zone where the interests of the US, Iran, and Gulf countries directly intersect.
What exactly Ukraine offers to Middle Eastern countries
Military expertise against Iranian threats
Ukrainian specialists are involved in protecting facilities, including those related to the US, from Shahed-type drone attacks. This experience was gained during the war against Russia, where Iranian technologies are used systematically and massively.
In fact, Ukraine is exporting its combat experience in real-time. This is a rare case where a country at war becomes a supplier of solutions for other regions facing the same source of threat — Iran.
Presence in key countries of the region
Currently, Ukrainian experts are already working in the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, and are also being sent to Kuwait. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky on March 18, 2026, there are 201 Ukrainians in the region, with another 34 specialists ready for deployment.
Such a concentration of specialists indicates a systematic approach. These are not one-time consultations, but the formation of a sustainable channel of cooperation between Ukraine and the Gulf countries in the field of security.
What Kyiv wants in return
Political support and sanctions against Russia and Iran
According to Foreign Ministry representative Georgiy Tykhyi, Ukraine expects increased political support on the international stage. This primarily concerns voting, diplomatic positions, and a clearer line of Middle Eastern countries regarding the war.
The second point is support for the sanction policy against Russia and Iran. For Israel and the region, this is a key moment: it is through such steps that pressure is formed on the Moscow-Tehran axis, which directly affects the security of the Middle East.
Security and investments
The third element is the expansion of practical cooperation in the field of defense and security. This means the exchange of technologies, joint projects, and deepening interaction at the level of military structures.
The fourth is the participation of regional countries in the reconstruction of Ukraine. This is already about the long-term perspective: investments, infrastructure projects, and the participation of Middle Eastern capital in Ukraine’s post-war economy.
It is at this point that it becomes clear that Kyiv’s strategy goes beyond the current war. As previously noted by НАновости — Новости Израиля | Nikk.Agency, Ukraine is gradually turning its military experience into a diplomatic resource that allows it to build new alliances far beyond Europe.
Why this is important for Israel
Coincidence of threat — Iran
For Israel, the key factor is the common source of threat. Iranian drones and technologies have already become part of the regional reality, and Ukraine’s experience in intercepting and neutralizing them is of practical value.
Ukraine’s rapprochement with the Gulf countries on this basis strengthens the overall anti-Iranian contour, in which Israel plays a central role.
New geopolitical configuration
An interesting configuration is forming: Ukraine, the Gulf countries, the US, and potentially Israel find themselves in the same security logic. This is not a formal alliance, but de facto coordination of interests.
Meanwhile, Russia and Iran find themselves on the other side — as suppliers of threats against which a common response is being built.
Practical question for the Israeli audience
The main question that arises in this context: if Ukrainian specialists are already protecting facilities in the Gulf from Iranian drones, can similar cooperation be expanded to the Israeli direction?
The experience is there. The threat is common. The political framework is gradually taking shape.
And further, everything will depend not on declarations, but on decisions.