Zelenskiy aims to strengthen security links after Riyadh trip

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday visited Saudi Arabia for the second time in a month, as Kyiv seeks to bolster security co-operation and advertise its battle-tested technology in the Middle East amid the Iran war. 

Zelenskiy said he discussed defence, energy and food security co-operation during a "very productive" meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as the sides seek to develop a security agreement signed earlier.

"There is a strategic security arrangement that we are actively developing across three key areas," Zelenskiy said.

The Ukrainian leader said this included exports of Ukrainian military expertise and air defence capabilities, energy co-operation to help Ukraine, and food security.

Kyiv has touted its battle-proven solutions against Iranian mass drone attacks in various Middle Eastern nations since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in February.

"Yesterday, at a meeting with European leaders, we secured financial guarantees for our resilience. Today, we are advancing our agreements with Saudi Arabia in the areas of security, energy, and infrastructure," Zelenskiy said on X upon arrival.

Zelenskiy did not mention the city, but Saudi state TV said he arrived in Jeddah. 

During his visit to Saudi Arabia in late March, Kyiv and Riyadh reached an agreement on defence co-operation that Zelenskiy described as laying a vast foundation for future contracts. 

Zelenskiy has said Ukraine's assistance is delivering results in the Middle East, and also offered Kyiv's expertise to help restore free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.