Ukraine-Kuwait defence cooperation opens door to wider strategic partnership
Ambassador Maksym Subh says agreement goes beyond drones, with scope for training, joint projects, military planning and exchange of expertise
The Times Kuwait Report
Ukraine and Kuwait are moving towards a broader strategic partnership, with defence cooperation emerging as a new area of practical engagement between the two countries, Ukrainian Ambassador to Kuwait Dr. Maksym Subh said.
Speaking at a press conference at the Ukrainian Embassy in Kuwait ahead of Ukraine’s 35th Independence Day and the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Subh said the newly activated defence cooperation framework could pave the way for what he described as a “qualitative partnership” benefiting both sides.
He stressed that the agreement should not be viewed simply as a mechanism for Ukraine to sell or market drones to Kuwait. Rather, he said, it provides a legal framework for a wider programme of military and defence cooperation that could include training, joint defence projects, military planning, coordination between the two countries’ military leaderships, consultations and the transfer of skills and expertise.
The ambassador said such cooperation could help strengthen the capabilities of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces in responding to the evolving security challenges facing the region and the wider world.
Beyond drone sales
Subh said Ukraine’s experience since the beginning of the full-scale war had generated significant practical expertise in modern warfare, particularly in areas involving unmanned systems, electronic warfare, communications, robotics and the integration of technology into military operations.
The Ukrainian Embassy’s Independence Day presentation notes that the war has accelerated cooperation between Ukraine’s armed forces, engineers, technology companies and the private sector, turning the country into a testing ground for new approaches involving communications, electronic warfare, robotics and artificial intelligence.
The ambassador indicated that this experience could form part of the broader cooperation with Kuwait, allowing both sides to exchange knowledge and benefit from lessons learned in confronting rapidly changing security threats.
He also emphasized that the objective is not limited to acquiring specific equipment. Training personnel, developing joint projects, improving military planning and sharing operational expertise could form important components of the relationship.
Ukraine stands with Kuwait
Addressing regional developments, Subh reaffirmed Ukraine’s solidarity with Kuwait and other Gulf states in confronting Iranian attacks. He said Ukraine supports Kuwait’s efforts, together with its Gulf partners, to restore security and stability in the region, protect civilian lives and ensure that development and prosperity can continue.
According to Subh, the experience of recent conflicts demonstrates the growing importance of protecting civilians and critical infrastructure against attacks involving drones and other modern weapons.
He said Ukraine and Kuwait could therefore benefit from closer coordination and an exchange of experience as both countries confront evolving security challenges.
A shared understanding of sovereignty
The defence discussions came against the backdrop of Ukraine’s 35th anniversary of the restoration of independence.
The Ukrainian parliament declared independence on August 24, 1991, while the decision was overwhelmingly endorsed by voters in a nationwide referendum on December 1 of the same year. More than 90 percent of participants voted in favour of independence, with the option receiving majority support across all regions of the country.
For Ukraine, however, independence is not simply a historical anniversary. The Embassy says it represents freedom, dignity, democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights, national sovereignty, territorial integrity and the right of peoples to determine their own future without external interference.
Subh drew a particular parallel between Ukraine and Kuwait, noting that Kuwait itself experienced invasion and occupation in 1990 before regaining its freedom and sovereignty with the support of the international community.
He said Ukraine continues to remember Kuwait’s experience as an important historical example demonstrating that occupation does not extinguish sovereignty and that aggression does not give an occupying power legitimate rights over another country’s territory.
33 years of diplomatic ties
Kuwait and Ukraine established diplomatic relations on April 18, 1993, beginning more than three decades of political, economic, humanitarian and security cooperation.
The Ukrainian Embassy notes that Kuwait was the first Gulf state to establish an embassy in Kyiv, opening its diplomatic mission there in 1995.
The relationship has been marked by high-level political exchanges. Ukrainian presidents visited Kuwait in 2003 and 2018, while the two countries have maintained regular contacts between foreign ministers and senior officials. The two sides have also continued political consultations on issues of mutual interest.
The relationship also has an important defence and security history.
In 2003, Ukraine sent its 19th Separate Radiological, Chemical and Biological Protection Battalion to Kuwait, with a force of around 550 personnel. The unit was deployed to help protect the population from potential threats involving weapons of mass destruction during a period of heightened regional tensions.
More recently, the two countries have maintained high-level contacts, including a meeting between the leaders of Ukraine and Kuwait in Jeddah in 2023 on the sidelines of the Arab League summit, as well as a meeting between the Ukrainian and Kuwaiti foreign ministers in Istanbul in 2026 on the sidelines of the NATO summit.
Kuwait’s support for Ukraine
Subh also expressed appreciation for Kuwait’s consistent support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and the principles of international law.
He highlighted Kuwait’s humanitarian assistance since Russia’s full-scale invasion, including the Kuwaiti government’s allocation of $1 million in 2023 to purchase electricity generators for Ukraine at a time when Ukrainian energy infrastructure was being systematically targeted.
The Ukrainian Embassy has stressed that this assistance was particularly significant given the continued pressure on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and the need for international support to maintain essential services.
Ukraine’s wider transformation
Subh also used the anniversary to highlight what Ukraine has achieved during the 35 years since independence.
The country has established its own presidency, parliament, government, judiciary, armed forces, diplomatic service and central bank, while developing a market economy and expanding sectors including agriculture, industry, aviation, aerospace and information technology.
Ukraine has also pursued closer integration with the European Union. It applied for EU membership in February 2022, received candidate status in June that year and formally opened accession negotiations in June 2024. Reform efforts connected to the accession process have continued through 2025 and 2026.
The Embassy also highlighted Ukraine’s importance to global food security, its large agricultural base and its continuing agricultural exports despite the impact of the war on ports, infrastructure and farming areas.
Looking towards a broader partnership
Beyond defence and security, Subh said there is substantial room to expand bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, food security, agriculture, energy, advanced technology, industry, education, culture and tourism.
The Ukrainian Embassy similarly identifies these sectors as areas where the two countries could develop closer practical cooperation, while emphasizing the importance of strengthening direct contacts between the Kuwaiti and Ukrainian peoples.
The emerging defence relationship could therefore become one element of a much broader partnership.
For Kyiv, the relationship with Kuwait carries a particular significance because of the two countries’ shared experience of defending sovereignty and territorial integrity. For Kuwait, closer engagement with Ukraine could provide access to a growing body of Ukrainian experience in modern defence technologies and battlefield innovation.
As Ukraine marks 35 years since the restoration of independence, Subh said he believes the friendship established with Kuwait 33 years ago can now develop into a more comprehensive partnership, one built not only on political understanding and humanitarian solidarity, but also on practical cooperation in defence, technology, food security, energy and other strategic sectors.
