Ukraine could turn its drone tech expertise into leverage as Gulf states look for cheaper ways to stop Iranian Shahed attacks, an analyst said, arguing that Kyiv now has “cards” the Trump administration can no longer ignore.
Bohdan Nahaylo, chief editor of the Kyiv Post, told TVP World’s World News Tonight that Ukraine’s growing expertise in low-cost interceptor drones could give President Volodymyr Zelenskyy new diplomatic room to maneuver at a time when Washington’s commitment to its cause remains uncertain.
He said Kyiv is not interested in simply handing over know-how, but in using demand for its battlefield-tested technology to win stronger political backing and more advanced air-defense systems.
Nahaylo said interest from the United States and several Gulf countries in Ukrainian interceptor drones reflects how the war in Ukraine has turned the country into a laboratory of military innovation. That matters not only commercially, he argued, but strategically.
Kyiv wants “something in return” for its expertise, he said, including Patriot missiles and broader diplomatic support.
Washington is reportedly considering Ukrainian-made drone interceptors as a cheaper way of countering Iranian UAV threats across the Arabian Gulf, while Qatar has also been linked to talks on acquiring the systems. Nahaylo suggested that such interest could strengthen Kyiv’s hand with a White House that has often treated Ukraine as a dependent rather than as a security partner with assets of its own.
Oil and Witkoff
Asked about the Middle East conflict’s impact on Ukraine, Nahaylo said any surge in oil prices could initially benefit Moscow by boosting Russian revenues. At the same time, he argued that the weakening of Iran, one of Russia’s key partners, may also expose limits to the Kremlin’s ability to protect its allies or shape events beyond its immediate neighborhood.
He was also sharply critical of Trump envoy Steve Witkoff’s approach to Moscow, saying the administration appears more focused on preserving ties with Russia than reassuring European allies or meeting Ukraine’s urgent defense needs.