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The leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy acknowledged the “drone interception expertise” of President Volodymyr Zelensky during a discussion on Iran on Friday.
In a telephone conversation, they commended Zelensky for offering to assist partners in the Middle East and underlined the importance of ensuring support to Ukraine continued at scale.
The premiers condemned Iran’s “egregious attacks” as Prime Minister Keir Starmer updated on the defensive measures taken by the UK to protect and reinforce partners in the region.
Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz, and Giorgia Meloni agreed that continued intensive diplomacy and close military coordination would be vital in the coming days.
They also agreed on the need to coordinate closely on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, and reiterated their concern about the situation in Lebanon, where Israel has pounded targets.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Zelensky announced that Ukraine is sending some of its military specialists to the Middle East to help counter Iranian drones and missiles.
The intervention followed Kyiv’s consultation with partners in Europe, the United States, and the Gulf States, including Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, among others.
Zelensky noted that the Iranian delta-winged attack drones “are the same ‘shaheds’ that have been striking our cities, villages, and our Ukrainian infrastructure throughout this war.”
He said over 800 missiles and 1,400 attack drones launched by Iran in recent days “pose the main threat to free navigation, destabilizing global prices for oil, petroleum products, and gas.”
In addition to F-35 jets, radar systems, and air defense already in the region, the UK has moved its HMS Dragon warship and Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters there as the war widens.
France is also sending the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier and its strike group to the Mediterranean due to the “unstable situation and the uncertainties of the days ahead,” Macron said in a speech on Tuesday.
Iran: European leaders praise Zelensky’s drone interception support
