KYIV, Ukraine, April 24, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Saudi Arabia on Friday and hold talks with crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, a senior official in Kyiv told AFP, marking his second trip to the country in as many months.

Zelensky has brokered closer ties with several states in the Gulf amid the US-Israeli war with Iran, striking defence deals -- including with Riyadh -- to share Kyiv's expertise in downing drones, gained through fending off four years of Russian attacks.

Kyiv also dispatched dozens of military specialists and drone interceptors to several countries in the region, where they were used to shoot down incoming Iranian drones.

It touts its anti-drone defences as the best in the world.

In a visit last month, Zelensky said the two sides had "reached an important arrangement" on air defence.

The deal envisaged a decade-long cooperation on defence, including on establishing joint production lines, Zelensky said after the last visit.

Saudi Arabia has maintained good relations with both Kyiv and Moscow, and has also hosted talks with US officials searching for an end to the Russian invasion.