Zelenskyy discusses trilateral pact and drone deal with Saudi crown prince

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he held a "very substantive conversation" with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), during which the crown prince outlined Saudi Arabia's recent agreements with Turkiye and Pakistan and their related prospects.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Zelenskyy also stated that the two sides discussed "the steps we will take in the near future as part of the Drone Deal between our countries." The Ukrainian president did not provide further details about the drone deal or the trilateral pact.

Ukraine and Saudi Arabia signed a bilateral defence cooperation agreement in March, which laid the groundwork for the drone deal. The agreement was part of broader efforts to strengthen military ties between the two nations.

The conversation comes amid ongoing diplomatic engagements by Saudi Arabia, which has been mediating in regional conflicts and forging new partnerships. The agreements with Turkiye and Pakistan are seen as part of Riyadh's strategy to diversify its alliances and enhance its geopolitical influence.

According to Mehr News Agency, the report was published on their English website, citing Zelenskyy's social media post. The exact date and location of the conversation were not disclosed.