Ukraine Seals Billion-Dollar Defense Partnerships with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE

Following the signing of an agreement with Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and Qatar have entered into a defense partnership lasting at least 10 years, including joint weapons production. A deal with the UAE is expected “within the next few days.”

Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, announced this.

According to him, the agreement with Qatar was reached during a meeting with the country’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

“We discussed how to provide greater protection for people’s lives in our countries and agreed on a mutually beneficial defense partnership for at least 10 years. At the end of the meeting, our Chiefs of General Staff signed the relevant agreement, which предусматриє joint projects in the defense industry, the creation of co-production facilities, and technological partnerships between companies,” he said in his address.

Later, during a video call with journalists, Zelensky announced that a similar agreement with the UAE would be signed “within the next few days” and stated that all three agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE include 10-year cooperation.

In particular, under these agreements, Ukraine and its partner countries will “engage in co-production, building factories and production lines both in Ukraine and in those countries.”

Additionally, Zelensky criticized attempts by certain companies to build factories abroad “behind the state’s back,” calling it harmful to Ukrainian exports and disrespectful to soldiers who risk their lives every day.

“There is an example of one company that sold 1,000 interceptors to a certain country. The company is very well known, and the country is as well. They sold 1,000 interceptors to that country. On the one hand, it sounds impressive – 1,000 interceptors. But on the other hand, it’s $3.5 million,” Zelensky said.

According to the President, this company, which has already sold drones, also has a state contract worth €300 million. Zelensky stressed that the state must control arms exports so that the priority remains Ukraine’s Defense Forces, and only then, other countries.

He emphasized that Ukraine already has ten-year strategic contracts with three Middle Eastern countries worth billions of dollars, which guarantee stable exports and revenues for Ukrainian manufacturers.

During his communication with journalists, the President also stated that during his visit to Middle Eastern countries, agreements were reached to supply Ukraine with diesel fuel for at least a year to prevent potential fuel shortages, primarily for the Defense Forces of Ukraine.

“We clearly understand the supply volumes. Supplying diesel and gasoline for the entire country amounts to about 700,000 tons per month. We understand how to ensure this. In addition to the contracts I have already mentioned, we are also discussing separate arrangements to guarantee unconditional priority for the army,” Zelensky said.