Zelensky Taps Umerov to Explore Ukraine Role in Hormuz Strait Security
AI Analysis
Ukraine is collaborating with multiple countries to counter Iranian-made Shahed drones and is exploring a role in securing the Strait of Hormuz. Ukrainian expertise in air defense is being sought by both European and Gulf partners, despite mixed signals from the US.
Key Takeaways
- Ukraine is working with five countries to counter Iranian-made Shahed drones.
- Zelensky tasked Umerov to explore Ukraine's role in securing the Strait of Hormuz.
- Ukraine has developed a complex air defense network integrating Soviet and Western systems.
- The US has shown mixed interest in Ukrainian assistance for drone defense.
- Ukraine offers cost-effective drone interception solutions compared to US systems.
Why It Matters
Ukraine's involvement in counter-UAS operations in the Middle East could enhance regional security and stabilize global oil markets. Their cost-effective air defense solutions offer a strategic advantage, potentially influencing military procurement and defense strategies in the region.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday he has asked National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov to look into how Ukraine could help secure the Strait of Hormuz.
After Umerov’s meetings in the Middle East and Gulf region, Zelensky said in a post on Telegram that Ukraine is talking with partners “at all necessary levels” about possible participation in missions to stabilize the important waterway.
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“I asked Rustem Umerov to work with our Foreign Ministry and military to review existing international plans for the Strait of Hormuz and see which countries are ready to take part,” he added.
Zelensky said Ukraine is already in active talks with partners across the region. “We are engaging with partners at all necessary levels,” he said.
He noted that Ukrainian teams are working with five countries on countering Iranian-made Shahed drones.
“Expert assessments have been provided, and we are helping to build protection systems,” Zelensky said. “There are additional requests from other states.”
Zelensky also said the United States had asked Ukraine for expert support for its military in two areas in the region.
“We are also processing requests from European partners whose forces are based in the region,” he said.
Zelensky said Ukraine is interested in the “fast and reliable stabilization” of the situation around Iran, citing its global impact on oil and gas markets and price stability, including in Europe and Ukraine.
Over more than two years of full-scale war, Kyiv has developed one of the world’s most complex air defense networks – combining Soviet-era and Western systems into a layered structure that includes electronic warfare, aircraft, ground-based interceptors, drones, and even machine gun teams.
Zelensky has repeatedly argued that this experience is directly applicable to defending against Iranian-made drones now threatening the Middle East.
However, signals from Washington have been mixed. On March 13, US President Donald Trump said the United States does not need Ukraine’s help on drone defense.
“No, they are not helping. We do not need their help. We know more about drones than anyone else. We have the best drones, actually,” Trump told Fox News.
The comments came despite earlier statements by Zelensky that there had been “requests from the American side” to help defend Gulf states and US assets from drone attacks.
Ukraine has also offered its expertise to Gulf states, some of which have spent heavily on US-made air defense systems to counter drone threats.
The United Arab Emirates alone reportedly spent vast sums in the early days of the conflict, far exceeding the cost of the incoming drones.
Ukrainian specialists are believed to be assisting Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and may also be contributing to the protection of US military facilities in Jordan.
He has also emphasized the cost advantage of Ukraine’s approach. Speaking on March 17, Zelensky said Ukrainian forces are intercepting drones with systems costing as little as $10,000, compared to interceptor missiles used by the United States and its allies that can cost up to $4 million per launch.
“Everyone is using hundreds and thousands of drones,” Zelensky said, warning that the mass deployment of low-cost drones is reshaping modern warfare.
Alisa is the Head of News and a correspondent at Kyiv Post, where she leads the newsroom’s coverage of breaking events and global developments. With over seven years of experience in TV journalism, Alisa has reported on international and Ukrainian politics, making complex stories easier to understand. Back in September 2022, Alisa joined the Kyiv Post team.