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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed sending Ukraine’s drone-defense experts to help Gulf states counter Iranian drone attacks in exchange for help securing a ceasefire with Russia.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, Ukraine is no stranger to dealing with Iranian-made drones. Early in the war, Russia turned to Iran for supplies of Shahed loitering munitions, which Russia began using against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure in 2022. Over four years of war, Russia has launched more than 57,000 Iranian-designed Shahed drones against Ukraine. Over time, Russia’s partnership deepened as Russia purchased large numbers of the drones and worked with Iran to localize production, including building a major manufacturing facility where Iranian-designed Shahed drones (rebranded as “Geran”) are now assembled for use in the war.

What’s going on now: In a notable development, Zelensky said Ukraine is willing to share the expertise it has developed defending against Iranian drones with Middle Eastern countries now facing similar attacks, but only if those nations help push Russia toward a temporary ceasefire. Speaking to Bloomberg, he suggested Gulf leaders use their ties with Moscow to persuade Vladimir Putin to pause the war. “I would suggest the following: leaders of the Middle East have great relations with Russians,” Zelensky said. “They can ask Russians to implement a month-long ceasefire.”

In return, Ukraine would send specialists with real battlefield experience intercepting Iranian-made Shahed drones. “We will send our best operators of drone interceptors to the Middle East countries,” Zelensky said, explaining that the pause in fighting could last a month, two months, or even just a few weeks so Ukraine can help those countries strengthen their defenses and “protect civilians.”

Zelensky pointed specifically to the close economic and diplomatic ties several Gulf states maintain with Russia, arguing they may have leverage Western countries do not. “For sure, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar have good relations, first of all economic, with Putin,” he said, suggesting those relationships could be used to persuade Russia to agree to a limited ceasefire.