Zelenskyy Says Nearly 20 Countries Discussing Drone Defense Deals With Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on May 11 that almost 20 countries are currently involved in discussions with Kyiv over deals to offer protection from drone attacks.

In a May 11 post on X, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov had given a detailed report on a series of drone security deals being negotiated.

“Nearly 20 countries are currently involved at various stages: 4 agreements have already been signed, and the first contracts under these agreements are now being prepared,” Zelenskyy wrote.

“With other countries, preparatory procedures are underway for political arrangements that will open the way for businesses.”

During four years of conflict with Russia, the Ukrainians have had extensive experience in shooting down drones, often using smaller unmanned aerial vehicles, machine guns, or jamming equipment to cause them to drop out of the sky.

After Operation Epic Fury was launched on Feb. 28, Iran responded by firing a number of missiles and armed drones at Israel, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and other U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf.

On March 11, Zelenskyy said he had sent anti-drone specialists to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE to help them stave off Iranian drone attacks.

Last month, the Ukrainian leader said his military had been involved in shooting down Iranian-designed Shahed drones in the Middle East during the conflict.

The Shahed drones, originally designed by Iran and widely used by Russia in its war against Ukraine, have become a shared threat across multiple regions.

“In addition to the Middle East and the Gulf, the South Caucasus, and Europe, we will soon launch this new security cooperation within the framework of Drone Deals with another part of the world as well,” Zelenskyy said in his May 11 post on X.

“We are preparing positive news for Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine!”

Zelenskyy said Umerov had also briefed him on meetings he had with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and adviser.

The Ukrainian leader said possible formats for meetings and negotiations at the “leadership level” aimed at ending the war with Russia had been discussed.

US ‘Engaged in Diplomacy’

“Importantly, America remains engaged in diplomacy and, in particular, has acted as a mediator on the issue of a prisoner exchange,” Zelenskyy posted on X.

He said it was hoped that another prisoner-of-war exchange would soon take place.

“The lists have been handed over, and we expect the American side to play an active role in ensuring the realization of this agreement,” Zelenskyy said.

On May 10, Trump said that three Polish and two Moldovan prisoners had been released from detention by Belarus and Russia with assistance from the U.S. government.

Trump announced on May 8 that there would be a prisoner exchange during a 72-hour ceasefire over the weekend.

“This Ceasefire will include a suspension of all kinetic activity, and also a prison swap of 1,000 prisoners from each Country,” he wrote in a post on Truth Social.

“This request was made directly by me, and I very much appreciate its agreement by [Russian] President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.”

The ceasefire expired on May 11, with the Ukrainian authorities accusing the Russians of breaking the truce with drone attacks and artillery shelling in the regions of Kharkiv and Kherson.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it had “strictly observed” the ceasefire, but accused Kyiv of repeatedly violating it.

Call for EU–Russia Talks

Finnish President Alexander Stubb told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that he believed that it was time for the European Union to negotiate directly with Moscow.

“If American policy towards Russia and Ukraine is not in Europe’s interest, as it seems to me, then we must engage directly,” Stubb said.

“Yes, it is time to start talking with Russia. When this will happen, I do not know.”

But the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, urged caution.

“Before we discuss with Russia, we should discuss amongst ourselves what we want to talk to them about,” she told reporters in Brussels.

The Epoch Times reached out to the U.S. State Department for comment and was referred to Trump’s May 8 post on Truth Social in which he said, “Talks are continuing on ending this Major Conflict, the biggest since World War II, and we are getting closer and closer.”