Ukraine has some of the world’s best expertise on intercepting Iranian drones — and now wants to capitalize on it.
Donald Trump’s attack on Iran reveals that Ukraine does have some cards to play, after all.
The U.S. president lambasted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last year in the White House, telling him: “You don’t have the cards right now.” One year on, Ukraine is holding talks with polite American officials in Kyiv keen to get a look-in on Ukraine’s world-leading anti-drone technology.
“Partners are turning to us, to Ukraine, for help,” Zelenskyy said on Wednesday night. “Requests on this matter have also come from the American side.”
Zelenskyy said he was also talking to Arab nations seeking to upgrade defenses against Iran, such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan and Bahrain. He was clear that Kyiv was seeking to gain strategic leverage from the talks. ___
I understand he’s desperate but I’d lose a lot of respect for Zelensky if he went ahead with this. He of all people should know what it’s like when murderous imperialists try to force regime change on you.
Counterpoint : Iran has been helping Russia and is by extension an enemy of Ukraine, and unlike Americans, his country is literally still fighting off the murderous imperialists of Russia, therefore they still need supplies and equipment for their own battles.
The reason Ukraine has this tech in the first place is because Iran’s help by giving said drones to Russia and having to defend against them.
Currently, there’s a no lose option here for Ukraine. Either they help I’m exchange for supplies and equipment, or they don’t help and still don’t really have to deal with Iran’s drones now at least, and Russia has become further weakened.
Option 3 would be Americans actually do shit and pull a French on the US government so Ukraine doesn’t have to give the tech to the US
Trading interceptors helps keep Russian occupation at bay; it’s what he must and will do. Putting aside his personal reservations (about working with someone who hates him) for the betterment of the country he leads, I respect him even more. Zelensky knows he doesn’t need to score FU points, he needs to save his country.