The deal was signed just before President\u00a0Volodymyr Zelensky<\/a>‘s meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.<\/p>\n Their meeting took place during the\u00a0Ukrainian<\/a>\u00a0leader’s surprise visit to\u00a0Saudi Arabia<\/a>, even as Tehran continues to launch drones and missiles across the region in retaliation for the weeks-long U.S.-Israeli aerial campaign.<\/p>\n According to Zelensky, Ukraine is ready to help Saudi Arabia “protect lives” while also signaling interest in certain “capabilities” on Riyadh’s part.<\/p>\n The two leaders also discussed the situation in the Middle East, Russia’s support for\u00a0Iran<\/a>, and potential energy cooperation between Kyiv and Riyadh.<\/p>\n Zelensky previously revealed that Ukraine deployed over 200 specialists in the Middle East and Gulf countries to help counter Iranian Shahed-type drones, broadly used by Russia in attacks against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.<\/p>\n Ukraine is also close to finalizing security agreements with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to help counter Iranian drones, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told Reuters in an\u00a0interview<\/a>.<\/p>\n Similar discussions have been held with Kuwait, Jordan, and Oman, he added.<\/p>\n The Kyiv Independent\u00a0reported<\/a>\u00a0on March 10 that Riyadh and Kyiv were in talks for a “huge” arms deal, and that a Saudi Arabian arms company signed a separate agreement to buy Ukrainian-made interceptor missiles.<\/p>\n Saudi Arabia has sought to position itself as a mediator in the Russia-Ukraine war,\u00a0hosting talks<\/a>\u00a0between Ukrainian and U.S. officials last March on a plan to end the war.<\/p>\n Tehran, in turn, has been a close strategic partner of Moscow, providing drones, missiles, and other arms for its all-out war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/61580421601627cfe686264fd423ed2f_1774601967_extra_large.webp\")