KYIV, March 5 - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on Thursday that Ukraine will provide assistance to the United States after receiving a formal request for help in defending against Iranian-made drones in the Middle East.
Tehran has launched hundreds of drones at U.S. targets in neighboring countries following a wave of air strikes by the U.S. and Israel that began on Saturday. During Ukraine's conflict with Russia, Kyiv developed effective techniques and systems to defeat the Iranian-designed Shahed kamikaze drone - a weapon Moscow has fielded extensively over the four-year war.
Writing in English on the X social media platform, Zelenskiy said: "We received a request from the United States for specific support in protection against 'Shaheds' in the Middle East region." He added: "I gave instructions to provide the necessary means and ensure the presence of Ukrainian specialists who can guarantee the required security."
A source familiar with the matter said the U.S. had asked for help to protect its bases and personnel in certain countries in the region, and that Zelenskiy had instructed the Ukrainian military to respond. The source said Ukrainian teams would begin work "in the next few days."
In a telephone interview the same day, U.S. President Donald Trump said he would accept assistance from any country when asked about Zelenskiy's offer to help defend against the Iranian drones.
Zelenskiy has also voiced concern earlier this week that a prolonged and intense war involving Iran could reduce weapons deliveries to Ukraine from its Western partners, in particular the air-defence systems Kyiv needs to protect against Russian missile attacks.
Ukraine has recently experienced shortages of U.S.-made Patriot air-defence systems - which are identified as the only effective asset in its inventory for intercepting Russia's ballistic missiles. On Tuesday, Zelenskiy said Ukraine would consider exchanging interceptor drones for air-defence missiles from Middle Eastern allies, noting those partners maintain their own stocks of Patriot systems.
Context and implications
The offer from Kyiv reflects the transfer of operational knowledge developed during Ukraine's conflict with Russia to a new theatre where the U.S. faces a different set of threats. Ukrainian counter-drone tactics and personnel deployments are being positioned as a direct response to a U.S. request for targeted protection of bases and troops.
At the same time, Zelenskiy's comments underline a concern that an expanding conflict with Iran could strain the flow of advanced air-defence equipment to Ukraine, a supply chain matter Kyiv has publicly signalled as critical to its own defence needs.