Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a significant political and military move by openly confirming for the first time that Ukrainian specialists are already participating in defensive support tasks in Gulf countries. According to him, they helped shoot down Iranian Shahed drones using domestically produced interceptors and electronic warfare capabilities developed by Kyiv during the Russian invasion. This represents a geopolitical victory for Kyiv in an increasingly fragmented world. In other words, Kyiv is attempting to trade military experience for strategic resources at a time when every liter of fuel and every interceptor system counts to sustain resistance against Russia. At this point, another key aspect of the Ukrainian proposal emerges: the energy component. Reuters reported that during Zelensky's tour of the region, negotiations were held for supplies of diesel fuel for Ukraine, a critical resource for both the Armed Forces and agricultural activity. He also stated that Ukraine has sent over 200 experts to the Middle East, that these teams work with their own technology, and that cooperation is no longer limited to theoretical training. Both Reuters and the official website of the Ukrainian Presidency noted that Kyiv put its experience on the table in the Black Sea, where it managed to keep sea routes open and contest freedom of navigation against a much more powerful naval force like Russia.
