Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Jordan on Sunday for an unannounced visit to discuss security cooperation with King Abdullah II, as Ukraine seeks to leverage its wartime experience defending against drone attacks to build new partnerships across the Middle East.
The meeting focused on potential collaboration in countering drone and missile threats, with Zelensky positioning Ukraine's five years of experience defending against Russian and Iranian-designed attacks as valuable expertise for regional partners facing similar challenges.
From our own experience, we know that without a unified system, it is simply impossible to establish comprehensive protection of people and critical infrastructure
Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian President — Anadolu Agency
The Jordan visit comes amid escalating regional tensions following US and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28, which have killed more than 1,340 people including former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and infrastructure damage while disrupting global markets and aviation.
Ukraine has already deployed over 200 specialists across Gulf states including the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to advise on countering Iranian drones. These experts bring practical knowledge from defending against the same Shahed drones that have struck both Ukrainian cities and Middle Eastern targets since 2022.
France 24 presents the visit as part of Zelensky's broader Middle East tour to strengthen security ties. The outlet frames it as a diplomatic initiative focused on regional cooperation amid ongoing conflicts.