March 9, 2026
The world media is focusing on the risks and opportunities for Ukraine from the intensification of the war in the Middle East, as well as why Poland is concerned about its security.
This and more was written about by the world media on March 9.
Ukraine has a chance to dictate its terms to the US
Meeting between Zelensky and Trump, photo: GettyImages
The war in the Middle East has shown that the West needs Ukrainian technology to combat cheap Iranian drones. That is why Ukraine has already sent its specialists to help the United States. As the war in Iran spreads, Kyiv is willing to offer its hard-won experience and advanced technologies to counter Iranian drones, according to The New York Times.
The United States requested assistance on Thursday, and the Ukrainian team left the next day, President Zelensky said.
American journalists note that the US and Israeli war against Iran distracts the world’s attention from Ukraine, but gives Kyiv a chance to apply its experience in combating Iranian drones (Shahed), which Russia has been using for years. Ukraine offers assistance to the US and Middle Eastern countries (Jordan, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia) – experts, drone interceptors and cheap methods of destroying UAVs instead of expensive Patriots. In return, Kyiv hopes to receive Patriot or other air defense systems, as well as diplomatic support to pressure Russia to cease fire. Some countries in the region have strong ties with Moscow, so they can influence the negotiations, according to The New York Times.
They also add that relations with Trump are tense: he again called Zelensky an obstacle to peace more than Putin. Meanwhile, Russia supplies Iran with intelligence (satellite images of US targets), and the drones used in Iranian attacks have Russian components (according to Zelensky).
“Ukraine destroys about 87% of Russian “Shaheds” with cheap means: machine guns, F-16s, jammers, its own interceptors. After all, Patriot costs millions, and Shahed costs up to $50 thousand. In the first days of the war in the Middle East, more than 800 Patriots were spent against more than 2,000 drones and 500 missiles, which is more than Ukraine received in 4 years. Therefore, Zelensky is balancing: aid should not weaken Ukraine’s defenses, where the war has been going on for five years,” the publication emphasizes.
And the AP wrote that cheap Ukrainian interceptor drones are indeed attracting the attention of the US and the Persian Gulf countries, but “wartime bans are blocking sales.”
“Ukraine, which during the war years became a leader in the production of inexpensive interceptor drones (costing $1-2 thousand, some models – such as Kuliya from General Cherry, P1-SUN from SkyFall or Sting from Wild Hornets), offers this experience and equipment to the US and partners in the Gulf. Kyiv is ready to send experts, instructors and drones (production allows tens of thousands per month, with a surplus for export without harming its own defense), integrate them into air defense systems, train crews, because it has unique combat experience (serial production, tested on thousands of Shahed from Russia),” the publication says.
But they also warn that there are obstacles: the arms export ban is still in effect from 2022, government regulation and diplomacy are needed (the arms market is controlled by the US). Analysts warn that success depends not only on technology, but also on government policy and actions. If cooperation succeeds, Ukraine could become a key player in modern counter-drones, strengthen geopolitical influence and obtain vital air defense systems.
The BBC wrote that armed robots are entering the battlefield in the war in Ukraine. After all, since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the war in Ukraine has become a high-tech conflict: the sky has been filled with drones, the Black Sea with unmanned boats, and now armed ground robots (UGVs – uncrewed ground vehicles, or “ground robotic systems”) are being deployed en masse on the ground.
UGVs have already proven their effectiveness: they repel attacks, take prisoners, and defend positions for weeks. The K2 brigade has the world’s first UGV battalion. These robots are equipped with Kalashnikov machine guns, grenade launchers, and explosives for kamikazes. The robots take risks where infantry cannot, and operate silently.
Clashes between Ukrainian and Russian killer robots are already taking place (even without people on the battlefield). Russia is developing the “Courier” (with a flamethrower, machine gun, autonomy of 5 hours) and the kamikaze “Lagaushka”. Although most UGVs are designed for logistics, evacuation of the wounded, and mining. Armed robots, on the other hand, are partially autonomous (movement, observation), but the decision to fire is made by the operator (due to ethics and international law).
Previously, the former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valeriy Zaluzhny, predicted that the future of war is swarms of cheap AI drones that attack from the air, land and sea simultaneously. Infantry cannot be replaced, but such robots will support it. The manufacturers, namely Tencore, made over 2,000 UGVs in 2025, but have a plan for 40,000 in 2026 (of which 10–15% of the robots will be armed).
The Guardian also noted that the conflict in the Middle East simultaneously creates “risks and opportunities” for Ukraine. After all, the US and Israeli war against Iran distracts the White House from peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, reinforcing Putin’s worldview of the “right of the strong” to attack the weak with impunity.
Former Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov told the publication:
“When Washington started this war, Putin was smiling in the Kremlin. He can show that his doctrine of ‘the right of might’ works. The world is changing.”
For Ukraine, these are risks and opportunities: new demand for Ukrainian interceptor drones and experience in countering Shahed, but also competition for air defense systems on the global market. Reznikov hopes for investments from the Persian Gulf countries in Ukrainian production. In contrast, Moscow is cautious about attacks on its ally Iran. A prolonged conflict could raise oil prices, supporting Putin’s weak economy (dependent on oil despite sanctions).
Uncertainty in Poland regarding American weapons and money for the army
photo: gettyimages
Meanwhile, the Gulf War may also affect arms supplies to Poland, writes Rzeczpospolita. After all, the US has contracts with Poland for Abrams tanks, F-35 aircraft, as well as Patriot batteries and missiles, among other things. Currently, there is a risk of delays in the supply of these missiles to Poland as well.
In addition, there are again disagreements in Polish politics regarding the financing of the army, writes Polskie Radio. On Tuesday, March 10, President Karol Nawrocki is to meet with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense and the President of the National Bank of Poland to discuss the “SAFE 0 percent” program. The alternative proposed by the President to the EU’s “SAFE” program (about 43.7 billion euros with interest) guarantees 185 billion zlotys for defense. The funds will come from the National Bank of Poland.
However, the spokesperson for the Civic Coalition, Dorota Loboda, criticizes the president’s proposal: there are few details, and the government’s press conference did not explain anything. Especially since the source of the funds is money “found from nowhere” by NBP Chairman Adam Hlapinski.
If Ukraine had oil they would have been in NATO since 2008…