Image Credit: Paolo Blocco / Contributor / Getty 
Ukraine’s Dictator Vladimir Zelensky, who is still fighting a now-4-year-long war against Russia, is getting involved in another region’s conflict – the Iran war.
On Sunday Zelensky explained (in Arabic) that Ukraine is providing military advice to the Gulf nations:
We are already working with the Gulf countries, and we maintain nearly daily communication with them at the team level. Tangible results have been achieved from our units in the defense sector, where we provide our expertise and practical support.
Other countries in the world should contribute their part in strengthening stability. For we all need joint decisions and coordinated action to establish security for everyone.
I thank everyone who contributes to the coordination and achievement of joint results.
Last Tuesday the Dictator said the Ukrainian military assistance for Iran was requested by Washington.
Right now, there are 201 Ukrainians in the Middle East and the Gulf region. And another 34 are ready to deploy.
These are military experts, experts who know how to help, how to defend against “shahed” drones. Our teams are already in the Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and on the way to Kuwait. We are working with several other countries – agreements are already in place. We do not want this terror of the Iranian regime against its neighbors to succeed.
And I sent these military experts at the request of our partners – including the United States.
In fact, this is part of the Drone Deal we proposed to the United States, which we worked on together and which is still on the table.And we are ready to offer similar deals to all our reliable partners – from practical cooperation on drones to future defense alliances. And I don’t think anyone would want to leave Ukraine’s war-proven strength and capability outside their security. If someone does, it wouldn’t be wise. The United Kingdom sees these opportunities clearly – our agreements are always solid, and I’m glad that today we have signed a declaration with the Prime Minister. Thank you very much, Keir.
From my address to the Parliament of the United Kingdom (1/7)
On Monday Zelensky announced that Ukrainian military intelligence has confirmed Russia is sharing targeting information with Iran to strike U.S. targets. Notably, Washington provides Kiev with targeting intelligence to hit Moscow’s forces.
Report by Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine Oleh Ivashchenko.
First, we have irrefutable evidence that the Russians continue to provide intelligence to the Iranian regime. Russia is using its own signals intelligence and electronic intelligence capabilities, as well as part of the data obtained through cooperation with partners in the Middle East.
While Ukraine began to be provided targeting intel by the U.S. under President-via-autopen Joe Biden, President Donald Trump continued the practice, only cutting it off temporarily when upset with the country’s Dictator.
On Friday it was reported that the head of Russia’s Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev, offered Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner a diplomatic proposition – the ceasing of Russian intelligence sharing with Iran in exchange for the ceasing of U.S. intelligence sharing with Ukraine. The officials from Washington reportedly rejected the deal.
In 2025 Moscow formalized a defense and economic cooperation agreement with Tehran, codifying an alliance between the two nations. The ‘Treaty on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation‘ includes provisions for the fields of defense, counterterrorism, energy, finance, transport, industry, agriculture, culture, science and technology.
This is not the first instance of Moscow welcoming Tehran with open arms. Iran attended the 2024 BRICS economic cooperation summit, their first year as a formal member of the bloc.
In 2025 Russia even warned the U.S. that several nations are prepared to give Iran nuclear weapons.
