Zelensky Says Willing to Help U.S. Defend Against Iranian Drones

Reference News Network March 8 Report According to a report from Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao on March 6, Ukrainian President Zelensky said on the 5th that Ukraine will assist in responding to the drone attacks launched by Iran in the Middle East at the request of the United States.

Given Ukraine's extensive experience in counter-drone operations accumulated over four years of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, this move is seen as deep cooperation between the U.S. and Ukraine in the realm of new warfare.

Since the U.S.-Israeli coalition launched a large-scale airstrike against Iran on February 28, Tehran has fired hundreds of drones at U.S. targets in neighboring countries.

Zelensky stated in English on social media platform X: “We have received a request from the United States for specific support in defending against ‘Shahed’ drones in the Persian Gulf region. I have given the order to provide the necessary means and ensure that Ukrainian experts are on site to guarantee the required security.”

U.S. President Trump, in a phone interview with Reuters on the 5th, expressed an open attitude when asked about Ukraine's proposal, stating that he is willing to accept assistance from any country.

According to a report from the Russian-Ukrainian website on March 5, U.S. actions in Iran are generally seen as a threat to Zelensky and his regime. However, the crisis presents both dangers and opportunities. Although Zelensky's opportunities are extremely limited, he still attempts to leverage them.

Zelensky's statement during an interview with Bloomberg on March 2 seemed somewhat strange at first glance—he suggested that leaders of Gulf countries, who are facing Iranian retaliatory strikes, persuade Russia to declare a ceasefire and provide Ukraine with “Patriot” air defense missiles. In return, Kyiv would offer “the best interceptor drone operators” to Middle Eastern countries.

The Russian Foreign Ministry's evaluation of this initiative is that it is bluster and a public relations stunt, a characterization that is worth agreeing with.

One of the main risks facing Ukraine is losing attention. For Zelensky, it is crucial to keep the topic of Ukraine in the information space at any cost. For him, any crisis—whether in Venezuela, Greenland, or Iran—is a threat.

Now, Zelensky is betting on the topic of air defense. If the call for a ceasefire is an obvious bluff, then the proposal to send people to the Middle East appears much more serious.

From a purely technical perspective, Ukraine has indeed become one of the global leaders in the use and countermeasures of drones. The Ukrainian Armed Forces not only master mature counter-drone tactics but also mass-produce various interceptor drones.

Although some say that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are even unable to protect their own facilities from Russian drone attacks, the fact is that both Middle Eastern monarchies and the United States are still at a level from the last century in this field.

An article on CNN's website stated: “Trump administration officials told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing that Iranian ‘Shahed’ drones pose a serious threat, and the U.S. air defense systems cannot intercept them all.”

In fact, militaries around the world currently face this dilemma: air defense/anti-missile systems used to intercept cruise missiles and ballistic missiles also need to defend against drone attacks. There is currently no clear solution to this—there is a lack of technical means (laser weapons are seen as future tools against drones but have not yet achieved mass production), and there is also no organizational structure.

In this context, even the short-term solutions from Ukraine are in demand. The Financial Times disclosed an insider message: the U.S. and at least one Gulf country are negotiating with a Ukrainian company to procure interceptor drones, although it is unclear which company.

It seems that the process has already begun; even if Zelensky's proposal is not adopted, his voice has been heard. If Zelensky's proposal is taken seriously, it will open up broad prospects for Ukraine, allowing it to trade with forces that meet the demands of modern warfare. (Translation/He Yingjun)