Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke by phone with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, discussing the situation in the Middle East.
Zelensky said he held the call on the evening of March 7 with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. He reported the conversation on his official X account.
The main focus was the escalation in the Middle East and threats posed by the Iranian regime.
“We discussed security in the Middle East and the Gulf region — the existing challenges and how to counter threats from the Iranian regime,” Zelensky said.
The president emphasized that Ukraine has unique experience countering Iranian attack drones that Russia has used extensively against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
“Ukrainians have been fighting ‘Shaheds’ for years… We are ready to help and we expect that our people will also receive the necessary support,” he noted.
Zelensky added that protecting human life must remain a shared priority for states facing drone and missile threats. He said coordination among European and Middle Eastern countries is becoming increasingly important amid rising risks.
Beyond security, the two also discussed prospects for expanding bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and Saudi Arabia, including potential joint projects and further steps to strengthen their partnership.
Tensions in the Middle East have spiked following the launch of a large-scale military operation against Iran, which began on February 28. The stated goals include destroying Iran’s ballistic missile program and nuclear infrastructure, and weakening the leadership and forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
In the first hours of the operation, the United States and Israel carried out about 900 strikes on targets inside Iran, and the total number of attacks later surpassed two thousand. Significant elements of Iran’s air defense network, parts of its air force and navy, and around 300 missile launchers were destroyed.
Iran has responded with massive barrages of ballistic missiles and thousands of drones aimed at Israel, U.S. military bases, and facilities in Gulf countries. Saudi Arabia, though not officially part of the operation, has also come under fire: since late February, rockets and drones have targeted Prince Sultan Air Base, the refinery in Ras Tanura, the Shaybah oil field, and other sites. Saudi air defenses, with U.S. support, have intercepted most of the attacks, though some strikes have caused fires, damage, and casualties.
