Reuters. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday (March 27) that Kyiv was working on reaching an agreement with countries in the Middle East on supplies of diesel, the type of fuel most in short supply in the country.
Zelenskiy was speaking to a Ukrainian television interviewer while on a tour of Middle Eastern countries. Earlier, he said Ukraine and Saudi Arabia had signed an agreement on defense cooperation that lays the foundation for future contracts, technological cooperation and investments.
Zelenskiy said he was discussing with his ministers and Naftogaz, the national gas production and distribution company, "a potential diesel shortage."
"I understand the importance of this task for Ukraine's security and believe that this issue will be resolved," he said.
"First and foremost, this is about diesel. Because about 90% of the potential shortage is specifically diesel. This is therefore the issue we are focusing on to resolve," he added.
Zelenskiy earlier said the framework agreement was signed ahead of a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The president hopes during the visit to the Gulf to bolster support for Ukraine in its four-year-old war against Russia.
Kyiv has sent more than 220 experts to advise several Middle Eastern countries on how to intercept drone attacks that have wreaked havoc on energy infrastructure across the region.
