Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to visit Saudi Arabia on Friday for high-level talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a senior Ukrainian official confirmed to AFP.

This marks the President's second trip to the Kingdom in just two months, signaling a deepening strategic partnership.

The visit comes as Zelensky continues to broker closer ties with Gulf states amid the ongoing conflict between the US, Israel and Iran.

Ukraine has successfully leveraged its four years of experience fending off Russian attacks to strike significant defense deals, including with Riyadh, focused on sharing expertise in downing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Kyiv has already dispatched dozens of military specialists and drone interceptors to various countries across the region.

These assets have been actively used to neutralize incoming Iranian drones, allowing Ukraine to tout its anti-drone defense capabilities as the most effective in the world.

Reflecting on his visit to the Kingdom last month, Zelensky noted that the two nations had "reached an important arrangement" regarding air defense.

According to the President, the deal envisions a decade-long cooperation on defense, which includes the establishment of joint production lines for military hardware.

While strengthening its defense ties with Kyiv, Saudi Arabia continues to maintain a balanced diplomatic stance, keeping good relations with both Ukraine and Moscow.

The Kingdom has also served as a neutral ground for talks with US officials seeking a resolution to the Russian invasion.

Source: AFP