Ukraine and Saudi Arabia seal first Gulf defence pact, tapping drone countermeasures

Ukraine and Saudi Arabia signed Kyiv’s first defence cooperation agreement in Jeddah during Zelenskyy’s visit, establishing a framework for future contracts, technology exchange, and investment while Kyiv offers its drone-countering expertise to boost Saudi air-defence capabilities amid Iran‑backed drone threats; Kyiv has already deployed hundreds of Ukrainian anti-drone specialists to the Gulf, highlighting Europe’s push to expand domestic defence production.