Translated with AI
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that 201 Ukrainian military experts have been dispatched to Middle Eastern countries, with an additional 34 specialists ready for deployment. He made this announcement on March 17 during his speech to the British Parliament.
According to Zelensky, these are military specialists with experience defending against Shahed-type drones, which Russia regularly uses to attack Ukraine.
He noted that Ukrainian teams have already arrived in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, and are also heading to Kuwait. Ukraine is also working with other countries in the region, with which relevant agreements have already been reached.
Zelenskyy emphasized that the decision to send military experts was made in response to requests from Ukraine's partners, including the United States.
In his speech, he also stated that Ukraine does not want a continuation of what he called “Iranian terror” against neighboring countries.
At the same time, the Ukrainian president called on his allies to maintain their focus on the situation in Ukraine amid events in the Middle East. He pointed to the threat posed by cooperation between Russia and Iran.
According to him, "the regimes in Russia and Iran are brothers in hatred, and that is why they are brothers in arms," adding that Ukraine strives to ensure that such regimes do not win.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in turn, stated that he would not allow events in Iran to distract attention from the war in Ukraine.
Following the talks in London, the parties signed a declaration on enhanced cooperation in security and defense, the UK government press service reported.
According to the document, Ukraine and the United Kingdom intend to develop a joint defense-industrial and technological ecosystem. This cooperation includes the creation of production lines, research and development, the integration of defense supply chains, and the development of industrial partnerships.
The British government's press release emphasized that this cooperation reflects a shared understanding that Ukraine is not only a state defending itself against aggression, but also a country contributing to the security of its partners and strengthening Europe's collective defense.
