Speaking in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian specialists have already been deployed to several countries in the region to help assess defenses against kamikaze drones used by Iran.

Each Ukrainian team consists of dozens of experts tasked with analyzing local air-defense capabilities and demonstrating effective counter-drone strategies.

According to the Ukrainian leader, teams have been sent to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, while specialists have also visited a U.S. military base in Jordan. The deployments come as Gulf states face growing threats from Iranian “Shahed” kamikaze drones and have expended significant numbers of air-defense missiles trying to intercept them.

Ukraine has gained extensive experience countering such drones during its war with Russia. Ukrainian forces regularly intercept drones using a mix of air-defense systems, electronic jamming equipment, and smaller interceptor drones that provide a cheaper alternative to expensive missile systems.

Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine’s assistance does not mean involvement in military operations against Iran. Instead, he described the mission as a defensive effort focused on sharing knowledge and conducting detailed evaluations of regional air-defense strategies.

“This is not about participating in operations. We are not at war with Iran,” Zelenskyy said, stressing that Ukraine’s role is limited to technical advice and strategic assessments on how to counter the Iranian-made Shahed drones.

He added that nearly a dozen countries worldwide have approached Ukraine seeking guidance on defending against drone attacks, reflecting Kyiv’s growing reputation in drone warfare and electronic defense.However, Zelenskyy made clear that Ukraine expects tangible benefits from its assistance.

“Honestly, for us today, both the technology and the funding are important,” he said, noting that discussions about what Ukraine will receive in return are still ongoing.

The Ukrainian president also said it remains uncertain whether Kyiv and the United States will finalize a long-discussed agreement on drone cooperation, negotiations for which have been underway for months.

As drone warfare becomes an increasingly central feature of modern conflicts, Ukraine’s battlefield experience is now positioning the country as an emerging global source of expertise in counter-drone defense.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting in Seoul, Lee acknowledged domestic debate over the reported transfer of U.S. military equipment from South Korea, including artillery batteries and air-defence systems.

“It appears that there is controversy recently over U.S. Forces in Korea shipping some weapons, such as artillery batteries and air-defence weapons, out of the country,” Lee said, adding that while South Korea had expressed opposition, it was not in a position to make demands regarding U.S. operational decisions.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said last week that the U.S. and South Korean militaries were discussing the possible redeployment of some Patriot missile system batteries stationed in South Korea for use in the conflict in the Middle East.

Local media reported that some of the systems were shipped from Osan Air Base and could be redeployed to U.S. military installations in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, though South Korean authorities have not confirmed the reports.

Lee said the reported removal of certain U.S. weapons would not undermine South Korea’s deterrence posture toward North Korea.

He noted that South Korea’s defence spending and conventional military capabilities exceed those of North Korea, suggesting that the country remains capable of maintaining security despite potential adjustments to U.S. deployments.

The discussions come as U.S. and Israeli forces continue strikes on strategic targets inside Iran as part of a military campaign that U.S. President Donald Trump has said is intended to cripple Iran’s nuclear weapons programme and ballistic missile capabilities.

The exercise, known as Cold Response, focuses on defending the European Arctic region, where Norway and Finland share borders with Russia. Military officials say the drills aim to test the alliance’s ability to respond to crises in the High North, an area that has drawn growing strategic attention in recent years.

The Cold Response exercise has now been incorporated into Arctic Sentry, a NATO mission designed to strengthen the alliance’s presence in the polar region. The initiative was launched in part to ease tensions surrounding Washington’s position on Greenland and to reinforce cooperation among Arctic allies.

Trump has repeatedly argued that the United States needs control over Greenland to counter potential security threats posed by Russia and China in the Arctic. Officials in both Denmark and Greenland have rejected the idea, stating that the island is not for sale.

This year’s drills involve approximately 25,000 personnel from 14 nations, including the United States and Denmark, operating primarily across northern Norway and Finland. According to military planners, the exercises will test coordination among allied forces in cold-weather and Arctic conditions.

The United States is expected to deploy roughly 4,000 troops to the drills, making it one of the largest contributors to the exercise.

Ahead of the exercise, the U.S. military withdrew one squadron of F-35 Lightning II fighter jets that had been scheduled to participate. U.S. officials declined to say whether the decision was related to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

A spokesperson for U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe said such adjustments were common given the global commitments of American forces.

“The U.S. military is a globally deployed force and it is not abnormal for forces to be dynamically re-tasked or reallocated for a host of reasons,” the spokesperson told Reuters.

This year’s exercise places greater emphasis on the role of civilian institutions in supporting military operations, reflecting broader Nordic efforts to strengthen national resilience during crises.

Norway has designated 2026 as the year of “total defence,” a policy initiative intended to improve coordination between the military, public services, businesses and the wider population in responding to conflict or major emergencies.

Major-General Lars Lervik, head of the Norwegian Army, said the military depended on the normal functioning of civilian society in order to carry out its core mission of defending the country.

“We want our military to do its job of defending the country. To do that, we are completely reliant on most aspects of society functioning as normal,” Lervik told Reuters.

He added that the exercise also offers an opportunity to rehearse practical support roles for civilians, including preparing health services to treat a higher number of injured soldiers from Norway or allied forces during a potential conflict.

The Arctic has increasingly become a focal point of geopolitical competition as melting ice opens new maritime routes and access to natural resources. NATO officials say maintaining readiness in the region has become a strategic priority for the alliance.

Cold Response, which takes place every two years, is designed to test NATO’s ability to operate in extreme conditions while coordinating multinational forces across land, air and maritime domains.

This year’s exercise unfolds at a time of heightened global tensions, with NATO allies seeking to demonstrate operational coordination and preparedness in one of the world’s most strategically sensitive regions.