Zelensky Seeks UAE Help to Secure Black Sea Routes

President Volodymyr Zelensky has held talks with United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss securing Black Sea maritime routes and global food security, amid escalating threats to Ukrainian shipping from both Russia and Iran. In his evening video address on Saturday, Aug. 1, Zelensky emphasized Ukraine’s previous contributions to the security of its Gulf partners, specifically regarding defense against Iranian attacks, and stated he is seeking reciprocal assistance for the Black Sea region.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “We discussed how the Emirates can help us in Europe, in the Black Sea region. This concerns food security, it concerns the security of maritime routes,” Zelensky said. The diplomatic outreach follows a sharp deterioration in Kyiv-Tehran relations and a narrowly avoided military escalation. Recently, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Ukraine of attacking an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea, an incident he claimed resulted in the death of a sailor. Araghchi labeled the alleged attack a violation of the UN Charter conducted at Israel’s behest, vowing to EU and Russian officials that the incident would not go unanswered. Tehran considered striking a Ukrainian seaport in retaliation, though intensive diplomatic efforts have managed to stabilize the situation. Compounding threats to the grain corridor The Iranian threat of retaliation compounds the existing dangers in the Black Sea. Throughout the summer, Russian forces have steadily intensified their strikes on civilian vessels, a campaign Zelensky stated is aimed at completely blocking Ukraine’s established “grain corridor” and disrupting global food supplies. Other Topics of Interest US Pauses Planned Strikes on Iran Amid Deal Talks President Donald Trump announced the suspension of a planned military campaign against Iran, citing an agreement to negotiate a new deal. The recent Caspian Sea incident marks a new low in bilateral relations between Ukraine and Iran, which were already openly hostile following Tehran’s provision of Shahed attack drones and military technology to Russia. Relations further eroded after Ukraine expressed support for Israeli strikes against Iran in June 2025 and officially recognized the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. Furthermore, Zelensky held meetings with exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi earlier in 2026, during which the Moscow-Tehran alliance was publicly described as an “Axis of Chaos.” Amid the escalating rhetoric and threats from Tehran, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar recently extended an invitation to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to visit Israel, noting that the two nations are actively discussing shared security challenges posed by Iran. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.