Netanyahu Proposes Drone Cooperation Talks to Zelensky: "Hopes for Early Next Week"

Israeli media outlet Ynet reported on March 17 (local time) that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proposed a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss cooperation on drone technology.

Yevhen Korniichuk, Ambassador of Ukraine to Israel, confirmed Netanyahu's request for a meeting in an interview with Ynet on the same day, stating, "We hope the meeting will take place early next week." Ynet analyzed that the purpose of this meeting request is to acquire Ukraine's technology for intercepting Iranian-made Shahed drones.

Iran Shahed drone. Photo by AP Yonhap News

Ukrainian media outlet Kyiv Independent also reported that President Zelensky had publicly expressed his willingness to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu in an interview with the Jerusalem Post the previous day. In the interview, he stated, "Prime Minister Netanyahu has what I need, and I have what he needs."

Since the outbreak of the war, Iran has launched thousands of Shahed drones in counterattacks, making it difficult for the United States, Israel, and their allies to devise effective defense measures. In particular, the skyrocketing cost of defense—due to the use of expensive air defense missiles to shoot down low-cost drones—has drawn attention to Ukraine's practical know-how in intercepting drones as a realistic alternative.

Ukraine has developed effective drone interception technology against Iranian-made Shahed drones and Russia's Geran drones, which are based on the same model, through four years of war with Russia. Leveraging this experience, Ukraine is engaging in so-called 'drone diplomacy' by dispatching drone experts directly to allied countries, seeking to expand its international standing, particularly in light of the situation in the Middle East.

However, the United States has taken a different stance on such cooperation. On March 13, U.S. President Donald Trump drew a clear line, stating that Ukraine's assistance is not needed to defend against Iran's drone attacks.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.