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Zelenskiy holds call with UAE counterpart

Yiannis Kourtoglou
Yiannis Kourtoglou
May 11, 2026
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrives to attend an informal European leaders' summit in Ayia Napa, Cyprus April 23, 2026. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrives to attend an informal European leaders' summit in Ayia Napa, Cyprus April 23, 2026. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou — Yiannis Kourtoglou

KYIV, May 11 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday discussed with the United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan UAE's assistance in bringing Ukrainians back from Russian captivity and the war in Iran.

Since the start of the wake of the Iran war, Ukraine has offered its battle-tested expertise in countering drones to the UAE and a handful of other Middle Eastern countries. Kyiv and the UAE struck a 10-year defence cooperation deal.

"I was glad to hear that Ukrainian expertise is truly helping to build reliable protection for lives. We discussed continuing this work," Zelenskiy said on X.

"I am grateful to the UAE that our agreements are being implemented on the basis of reciprocity and that Ukraine is also receiving the support it needs, including in the energy sector," Zelenskiy added.

(Reporting by Yuliia Dysa; Editing by Alistair Bell)