Ukraine offers Kuwait drones, strategic defense partnership

23/08/2026

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 23: Ukrainian Ambassador to Kuwait Dr. Maksym Subkh affirmed that his country is ready to supply Kuwait with drones and contribute to building its integrated defense system. Subkh made the announcement at a press conference on the occasion of the 35th Independence Day of Ukraine and the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kuwait and Kyiv. According to Subkh, the execution of the military cooperation agreement between the two countries opens the door to a qualitative partnership that includes training personnel, implementing joint defense projects, and providing the necessary expertise and consultations to enhance the capabilities of the Kuwaiti Army. He stressed that his country is happy over the enforcement of the military cooperation agreement, which was signed in 2018. He expressed his gratitude to the Kuwaiti government for completing the required legal procedures, indicating that the two sides have started their military and defense cooperation.

He pointed out that the concept of defense cooperation is broader than military cooperation, and that the agreement covers several important areas, thereby, forming a legal framework that allows Kuwait and Ukraine to move towards a qualitative partnership from which both countries will benefit. He emphasized that the goal of cooperation is not just marketing or selling his country’s military equipment, including drones. He said the aim is to establish a comprehensive defense cooperation framework, covering personnel training, joint military and defense exercises, joint planning, and coordination between the general staffs of both countries. He reiterated that Ukraine is ready to sign additional agreements and protocols with Kuwait in order to clearly define the areas of defense and military cooperation, and enable the transformation of agreements into concrete and practical projects in the near future.

He indicated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been reaffirming the full solidarity of Ukraine with Kuwait and other Gulf states, as Kyiv believes that the security challenges that the region is facing necessitate stronger coordination. He added that President Zelenskyy previously highlighted the role of Iran in supporting Russia with drones and their production and manufacturing technology since the beginning of the war, stressing that Ukraine and the Gulf states face similar challenges, which require coordinated action to overcome these challenges efficiently. He also confirmed that the holders of Kuwaiti passports, regardless of the categories, are exempted from entry visa to Ukraine. He said the visa issuance procedures for the residents of Kuwait take a maximum of one month. On the accession of Ukraine to the European Union (EU), he pointed out that Ukrainians enjoy visa-free entry to EU countries and this is a significant step in terms of the rapprochement between the two sides. He cited other important steps, such as the signing of the Deep and Comprehensive Partnership Agreement and establishment of a free trade area between Ukraine and the EU. He revealed that the EU is providing assistance to expedite the accession process for his country. He explained that the Ukrainian government must implement a set of internal reforms and measures, foremost of which is aligning Ukrainian legislation and laws with European laws and standards. He went on to say that Aug 24 embodies the aspirations of the Ukrainian people for freedom, sovereignty and the right to self-determination, which spanned centuries.

He clarified that the independence of Ukraine in 1991 was not the beginning of the history of the Ukrainian state, but rather the restoration of independence, indicating that the roots of the Ukrainian state and identity extend back many centuries. He said the Ukrainian people have waged a long struggle for generations to preserve their language, culture, identity and right to establish their independent state. He indicated that the Ukrainians and Kuwaitis share a special and deep understanding of the meaning of independence and sovereignty, as Kuwait itself suffered a painful experience when it was invaded and occupied in 1990. He disclosed that official diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Kuwait date back to April 18, 1993, and these relations have since developed on the basis of mutual respect, friendship, and commitment to adhere to the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference in internal affairs. He pointed out that such relations have witnessed significant exchange of high-level visits over the past decades, with the Ukrainian president visiting Kuwait in 2003 and 2018, and Ukrainian prime minister visiting Kuwait in 1993, as well as the regular visits and communications between the foreign ministers and senior officials of the two countries, and political consultations between the two foreign ministries. He expressed his country’s deep appreciation for the supportive stance of Kuwait on the sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law of Ukraine, as well as the humanitarian aid that Kuwait has been providing to the Ukrainian people since the beginning of the war. He said the Kuwaiti government allocated $1 million in 2023 to purchase generators for Ukraine while the Ukrainian energy facilities were being targeted. He stressed that the continuous attempt to destroy the energy infrastructure of his country entails the need for strong and urgent international cooperation to support the Ukrainian energy sector.

By Fares Ghaleb Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff