Zelensky makes shock Saudi Arabia journey for ‘important meetings’ as Ukraine steps up Middle East assist | EUROtoday

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday for an unannounced go to, simply days after revealing Ukraine’s increasing position in Middle Eastern safety.

Kyiv is reportedly helping 5 international locations within the area – Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan – in countering drone assaults, a functionality honed in the course of the ongoing battle with Russia.

Mr Zelensky confirmed his arrival on X, stating: “Arrived in Saudi Arabia. Important meetings are scheduled.” He added: “We appreciate the support and support those who are ready to work with us to ensure security.”

The Ukrainian chief had beforehand indicated that his nation is offering drone experience and serving to to construct defence techniques for these Gulf states.

He additionally urged Ukraine might play a component in restoring safety within the Strait of Hormuz.

In return, Kyiv is looking for extra high-end air-defence missiles, which Gulf international locations possess and are desperately wanted to repel Russia’s missile barrages.

Ukraine has emerged as a number one international producer of cutting-edge, battle-tested drone interceptors, that are each low-cost and efficient, proving instrumental in its defence towards Russia’s greater than four-year-old full-scale invasion.

Ukrainian officers didn’t announce the journey beforehand, nor did they instantly present additional particulars.

A bunch of northern European international locations vowed Thursday to harden the battle towards Russia’s “shadow fleet” of tankers exporting its sanctioned oil, as Turkish officers stated that a kind of tankers approaching the Black Sea entrance to the Bosporus Strait was hit by a naval drone.

Russia’s shadow fleet is made up of growing older tankers which are purchased used, typically by non-transparent entities with addresses in international locations that aren’t sanctioning Russia.

Moscow wants the vessels to dodge Western sanctions and promote the oil and petroleum merchandise that largely finance its greater than 4-year invasion of Ukraine.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated at a gathering with allies in Finland that “we should go after the shadow fleet even harder.”

Speaking with other members of the Joint Expeditionary Force, a 10-country group that has been tracking the vessels, Starmer said the British military will now be able to board shadow fleet tankers when they transit UK waters, joining several other allies in doing so.

“Together, we must close off critical sea routes to this vital trade, to keep up the pressure on (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and to help change the narrative of this war” in Ukraine, Starmer said.

In a recorded video message, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia’s oil and gas exports are fueling Moscow’s effort to take over Ukraine.

“So please keep the pressure on Russia — its tankers and shadow fleet must not feel safe in European waters,” he said.

In Turkey, officials said that none of the 27 Turkish crew members of the Altura tanker was injured when it was attacked early Thursday, causing damage to the bridge and engine room.

The Altura, which reportedly was carrying 140,000 tons of crude oil when it was hit some 14 nautical miles north of the Bosphorus, has been owned by Turkey-based Pergamon Maritime since November.

The tanker has been subject to European Union sanctions since October due to its role in transporting sanctions-dodging Russian oil exports, according to the Open Sanctions website.

Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said the tanker was subjected to an “attack by an unmanned sea vessel.” He didn’t say whether or not Ukraine was suspected to be behind the assault.

In the previous, Ukraine’s army has stated it used sea drones to sink Russian vessels within the Black Sea. Earlier this month Russia blamed a Ukrainian naval drone for the sinking of a Russian-flagged tanker carrying liquefied pure fuel within the Mediterranean Sea off Libya.