Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is to visit Saudi Arabia on Friday and hold talks with crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, marking his second trip to the country in as many months, a senior official in Kyiv informed.
Zelenskyy has brokered closer ties with several states in the Gulf amid the US-Israeli war with Iran, striking defence deals, including with Riyadh, to share Kyiv’s expertise in downing drones, gained through fending off four years of Russian attacks.
Kyiv also dispatched dozens of military specialists and drone interceptors to several countries in the region, where they were used to shoot down incoming Iranian drones.
It touts its anti-drone defences as the best in the world.
In a visit in March, Zelenskyy said the two sides had 'reached an important arrangement' on air defence.
The deal envisaged decade-long cooperation on defence, including establishing joint production lines, Zelensky said after the last visit.
Saudi Arabia has maintained positive relations with both Kyiv and Moscow and has also hosted talks with US officials searching for an end to the Russian invasion.
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