Ukraine President Seeks Reciprocal Support with Drone Expertise

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced plans to send drone experts to the Middle East in the coming days. The move is part of Kyiv's efforts to secure reciprocal support for its ongoing conflict with Russia.

Zelenskyy made the announcement while speaking to the press after a meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten. The two leaders discussed joint arms production, with Ukraine looking to leverage its experience in defending against Iranian-made drones used by Russia.

According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine is seeking to produce weapons together with the Netherlands, with a focus on investments and possible production volumes. The Netherlands have been a key donor to the PURL program, which allows Europe to purchase US weapons for Ukraine.

The demand for Ukraine's drone defence technology could lead to new defence partnerships for Kyiv. However, it may also result in fewer drones for Ukraine itself in a stretched market.

The development comes as global weapons flows have grown by almost 10% in the past five years. Europe has seen a significant surge in imports, with many countries seeking to boost their military capabilities against a perceived threat from Russia.

Russia's defence ministry has reported intercepting 234 drones over central and southern Russia, with no damage or casualties reported.

As Ukraine continues to face challenges in its conflict with Russia, Zelenskyy's efforts to secure reciprocal support are seen as a key step towards bolstering the country's defences.