Vladimir Zelensky said in an interview with The New York Times that Ukraine sent experts and interceptor drones to protect US military bases in Jordan from Iranian drones.
According to the President of Ukraine, the United States sent a request for assistance on Thursday, March 5, and the next day the Ukrainian group left for the Middle East. “We responded immediately,” Zelensky confirmed.
The US presidential administration did not respond to the New York Times’ request to comment on the appeal addressed to Ukraine for assistance.
The Ukrainian president added that another group of experts will go to the Middle East to help the countries of the region defend themselves against Iranian drones, not only with the help of expensive Patriot air defense systems. It was not specified when and where the second group of experts would go.
Zelensky reiterated that Middle Eastern countries, many of which have special ties with Russia, could persuade Russian authorities to declare a truce in the war with Ukraine so that Ukrainian experts can help them defend against Iranian drones. “Maybe they can talk to the Russians and the Russians will stop,” he said, adding: “In that case, of course, we can help the Middle East protect them.”
The President of Ukraine also stated that the drones being launched by Iran across the Middle East contain Russian components. The New York Times notes that this information cannot be confirmed at the time of publication.
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The United States and Israel started a war with Iran on February 28, and Iran began launching drones and missiles at countries in the Middle East. Among other things, the Iranian army uses Shahed drones, a modification of which is used by the Russian Armed Forces in the war with Ukraine. The Ukrainian military claims to have managed to shoot down almost 90% of Russian drones.