‘Why do you sit out here
all alone?’ said Alice,
not wishing to begin
an argument.
‘Why, because there’s nobody
with me!’ cried Humpty Dumpty.
‘Did you think I didn’t know
the answer to that? Ask another.’
‘Don’t you think you’d be safer
Down on the ground?’
Alice went on,
not with any idea of
making another riddle,
but simply in her good-natured
anxiety for the queer creature.
‘That wall is so very narrow!’
Teams of ‘elves’.
Military experts have been.
Sent to Qatar.
The United Arab Emirates.
Sent to Qatar.
The United Arab Emirates.
And Saudi Arabia.
To help them defend against.
Drones being launched.
From Iran in retaliation.
For the massive US.
And Israeli air attacks.
Others are also.
Helping the US defend.
Its military presence.
In Jordan.
‘And only one for
birthday presents, you know.
There’s glory for you!’
There’s glory for you!’
‘I don’t know what you mean
by “glory,”’ Alice said.
Humpty Dumpty
smiled contemptuously.
In a video address.
‘Gandalf the Green’ said.
Ukraine had.
“The greatest experience.”
Ukraine had.
“The greatest experience.
In the world.
In countering attack drones”.
– a reference to expertise.
Built up over the more than.
Four years of attacks.
By ‘Mordor’ on its neighbour.
‘Of course you don’t
– till I tell you.
I meant “there’s a nice
knock-down argument for you!”’
‘But “glory” doesn’t mean
“a nice knock-down argument”’
Alice objected.
‘When I use a word,’
Ukraine says the US.
And 10 more countries.
Across the Middle East.
And Europe have asked.
For help countering.
The threat of drones.
That have wrought.
Much damage.
Humpty Dumpty said
in rather a scornful tone,
‘it means just what I choose it
to mean – neither more nor less.’
‘The question is,’
said Alice, ‘whether
you can make words mean
so many different things.’
There has been no comment.
By any of the countries concerned.
Last week the US President said.
He would take help.
He would take help.
From “any country”.
That offered it.
Including Ukraine.
‘The question is,’
said Humpty Dumpty,
‘which is to be master
– that’s all.’
Alice was too much puzzled
to say anything,
so after a minute
Humpty Dumpty began again.
In his address.
‘Gandalf the Green’ said.
One of Ukraine’s.
Top officials.
Secretary of the National Security.
And Defence Council.
Was on his way.
To the Gulf.
Along with military.
Intelligence and defence officials.
To prepare what he called.
“Concrete agreements”.
“Ukraine has.
The greatest experience.
In the world.
In countering attack drones.”
‘They’ve a temper,
some of them
– particularly verbs,
they’re the proudest –
adjectives you can do
anything with, but not verbs
– however, I can manage
the whole lot of them!
‘Gandalf the Green’ said, adding.
That “without our experience.
It will be very difficult.
For the Gulf region.”
“The entire Middle East.
And partners in Europe.
And America.
To build strong protection”.
“We are ready to help.
Those who help us.
Help Ukraine.”
“We are ready to help.”
Impenetrability!
That’s what I say!’
‘Would you tell me, please,’
said Alice, ‘what that means?’
‘Now you talk like
a reasonable child,’
said Humpty Dumpty,
looking very much pleased.
The air defences.
Of some countries.
In the Middle East.
Have struggled to cope with.
Incoming Iranian drones.
Using million-dollar missiles.
Against cheap Shahed.
Unmanned aircraft.
Ukraine, instead.
Uses cheap, mass-produced.
Interceptor drones to keep.
Their skies relatively safe.
It is now offering.
Gulf countries both.
Its weapons and its expertise.
Its weapons and its expertise.
‘I meant by “impenetrability”
that we’ve had enough of that subject,
and it would be just as well
if you’d mention
what you mean to do next,
as I suppose
you don’t mean to stop here
all the rest of your life.’
But there are political risks.
If people in Ukraine.
Were to ask.
Why drones are being sent.
Why drones are being sent.
To the Gulf.
When they are badly.
Needed here.
‘That’s a great deal
to make one word mean,’
Alice said
in a thoughtful tone.
‘When I make a word do
a lot of work like that,’
said Humpty Dumpty,
‘I always pay it extra.’
That is why.
‘Gandalf the Green’ is repeatedly.
Making clear that.
Making clear that.
Ukraine must get.
Something back in return.
Something back in return.
For any help.
“Those now seeking.
‘Elves’ help must.
Continue to assist.
Our own defence.”
“Continue to assist.
Our own defence.
– first and foremost.
Our air defence, ” he said.
Oh!’ said Alice.
She was too much puzzled
to make any other remark.
Oh!’ said Alice.
‘Ah, you should see ‘em
come round me of
a Saturday night,’
a Saturday night,’
Primarily that would mean.
Giving Ukraine more Patriot.
And other air-defence.
That Kyiv needs.
Not to bring down.
‘Orcs’ attack drones.
But its fast missiles that are.
Much harder to defend against.
Humpty Dumpty went on,
wagging his head gravely
from side to side:
‘for to get their wages, you know.’
(Alice didn’t venture to ask
what he paid them with;
and so you see
I can’t tell you.)
Ukraine also hopes.
To use the sale of.
Interceptor drones.
Not only to earn more funds.
For its depleted coffers.
But also to win.
More friends and allies.
In the Gulf.
Which have tried to avoid.
Taking sides.
In ‘orcs’ war.
On Ukraine.
‘Don’t you think you’d be safer
Down on the ground?’
Alice went on,
not with any idea of
making another riddle,
but simply in her good-natured
anxiety for the queer creature.
‘That wall is so very narrow!’
The fact the tables.
Have been turned.
And Western allies are now.
Asking Ukraine for help.
Has not been lost.
On people here in Kyiv.
The fact the tables.
Have been turned.
‘What tremendously easy
Riddles you ask!’
Humpty Dumpty growled out.
‘Of course I don’t think so!
Why, if ever
I did fall off
– which there’ no chance of –
but if I did –’
But some ‘elves’ figures fear.
There are risks of.
‘Gandalf the Green’ asking.
Too much of his Western allies.
And overselling.
His country’s drone expertise.
Eyebrows were raised when.
The presidential office confirmed.
That it had offered.
The US a drone deal.
A year ago and.
It had been turned down.
Here he pursed up his lips
and looked so solemn and grand
that Alice could hardly
help laughing.
‘If I did fall,’
he went on,
‘the King has promised me –
ah, you may turn pale, if you like!
In an interview.
‘Gandalf the Green’ said.
It was a “good feeling”.
That so many partners.
It was a “good feeling”.
That so many partners.
Were asking Kyiv.
For help.
“The Americans asked us.
And, of course.
I’m very proud that.
We can help American partners.”
You didn’t think I was
going to say that, did you?
The King has promised me
– with his very own mouth – to – to –‘
‘To send all his horses
and all his men,’
Alice interrupted,
rather unwisely.
Asked if he had.
Cards to play.
‘Gandalf the Green’ said:
“We held them.”
“We held them.
Like a good player.
You can have good cards.
But it’s important.”
“Not to show everyone.
That you have them.”
“Not to show everyone.
That you have them.”
“I think we had them.
A year ago, too.
But we didn’t show them.
Now, however.”
“Everyone understands.
That they are there.”
“Everyone understands.
That they are there.”
‘Now I declare
that’s too bad!’
Humpty Dumpty cried,
breaking into a sudden passion.
‘You’ve been listening at doors
– and behind trees
– and down chimneys
– or you couldn’t have know it!’
It is a reference to.
The US President’s repeated statements.
That Kyiv held no cards.
In its talks.
With Moscow and Washington.
– and that it should make concessions.
In order to reach a deal.
To end the war with ‘Mordor’.
‘I haven’t, indeed!’
Alice said very gently.
‘It’s in a book.’
‘Ah, well! They may write
such things in a book,’
Humpty Dumpty said in a calmer tone.
‘That’s what you call
a History of England, that is.
The US President has led efforts.
To mediate a peace deal.
But his proposals to do so.
Have been seen as favouring ‘Mordor’.
One of the biggest obstacles.
To the peace negotiations.
Has been the demand.
For Kyiv.
To give up to ‘Mordor’.
To give up to ‘Mordor’.
Areas it does not.
Currently control.
In the Donbas.
– an industrial area composed of.
The administrative regions of.
Donetsk and Luhansk.
‘If he smiled much more,
the ends of his mouth
might meet behind,’
she thought:
‘and then I don’t know
what would happen to his head!
I’m afraid
it would come off!’
‘Mordor’ currently controls.
More than 80%.
Of those areas.
– which Ukraine refuses to give up.
Since coming to power.
More than a year ago.
The man has also.
Cut US aid to Ukraine.
Cut US aid to Ukraine.
Criticising his predecessor.
For wasting.
US taxpayers’ money.
Instead, much-need US hardware.
Including Patriot missiles.
Are now being bought.
By ‘elves’ European allies.
Before being handed over.
To Kyiv.
Their supply, however.
Has been slow and insufficient.
‘Yes, all his horses
and all his men,’
Humpty Dumpty went on.
‘They’d pick me up again
in a minute, they would!
However, this conversation
is going on a little too fast:
let’s go back to the last remark but one.’
‘Gandalf the Green’ says.
Ukraine has signed.
A deal.
A deal.
With Saudi Arabia.
To share its drone.
Defence expertise.
And technology.
‘And only one for
birthday presents, you know.
There’s glory for you!’
There’s glory for you!’
‘I don’t know what you mean
by “glory,”’ Alice said.
Humpty Dumpty
smiled contemptuously.
‘Gandalf the Green’ said.
Saudi Arabia was facing.
The same type of.
Ballistic missile and drone attacks.
From Iran that.
Ukraine had been resisting.
For more than four years.
From ‘Mordor’.
‘Of course you don’t
– till I tell you.
I meant “there’s a nice
knock-down argument for you!”’
‘But “glory” doesn’t mean
“a nice knock-down argument”’
Alice objected.
‘When I use a word,’
“We are ready.
To share our expertise.
And systems.
With Saudi Arabia.”
“And to work together.
To strengthen.
The protection of lives.”
He said in a post on X.
Humpty Dumpty said
in rather a scornful tone,
‘it means just what I choose it
to mean – neither more nor less.’
‘The question is,’
said Alice, ‘whether
you can make words mean
so many different things.’
Ahead of a meeting.
With the Saudi Crown Prince.
‘Gandalf the Green’ posted.
That the defence deal laid.
The foundation.
For future contracts.
Technological cooperation.
And investment.
‘The question is,’
said Humpty Dumpty,
‘which is to be master
– that’s all.’
Alice was too much puzzled
to say anything,
so after a minute
Humpty Dumpty began again.
“Saudi Arabia also.
Has capabilities.
That are of interest.
To Ukraine.”
“And this cooperation.
Can be mutually beneficial.”
Can be mutually beneficial.”
‘Gandalf the Green’ added.
‘They’ve a temper,
some of them
– particularly verbs,
they’re the proudest –
adjectives you can do
anything with, but not verbs
– however, I can manage
the whole lot of them!
‘Gandalf the Green’ said.
He had also discussed.
With the Saudi Crown Prince.
Reports that ‘Mordor’ was.
Assisting Iran’s regime.
As well as developments.
In the fuel market.
And energy co-operation.
Impenetrability!
That’s what I say!’
‘Would you tell me, please,’
said Alice, ‘what that means?’
‘Now you talk like
a reasonable child,’
said Humpty Dumpty,
looking very much pleased.
On Thursday.
In a video message.
To the Joint Expeditionary Force.
A security alliance.
A security alliance.
Which held a summit meeting.
In Helsinki.
‘Gandalf the Green’ said:
“The key is not only.
Producing new weapons.
– especially drones –
Not just technology.”
“- especially drones –
Not just technology.
But also real experience.
In using it.”
“And integrating it.
With radars, aviation.
And other air defence systems.
We have this experience.”
‘I meant by “impenetrability”
that we’ve had enough of that subject,
and it would be just as well
if you’d mention
what you mean to do next,
as I suppose
you don’t mean to stop here
all the rest of your life.’
‘Gandalf the Green’ said.
That in exchange.
He would be looking for.
Assistance in defending Ukraine.
He would be looking for.
Assistance in defending Ukraine.
Against the ongoing.
‘Orcs’ invasion.
‘That’s a great deal
to make one word mean,’
Alice said
in a thoughtful tone.
‘When I make a word do
a lot of work like that,’
said Humpty Dumpty,
‘I always pay it extra.’
“We would like.
Middle Eastern states.
To also give us.
An opportunity.”
“To strengthen ourselves.
They have certain.
Air defence missiles of which.
We don’t have enough.”
“That’s what we’d like to reach.
A deal on.”
He said in an interview.
With the French newspaper.
Oh!’ said Alice.
She was too much puzzled
to make any other remark.
Oh!’ said Alice.
‘Ah, you should see ‘em
come round me of
a Saturday night,’
a Saturday night,’
Several ‘elves’ drone companies.
Say they have been.
Approached by Gulf states.
For help.
But have not yet been.
Given the green light.
By the government.
In Kyiv.
Humpty Dumpty went on,
wagging his head gravely
from side to side:
‘for to get their wages, you know.’
(Alice didn’t venture to ask
what he paid them with;
and so you see
I can’t tell you.)
An ‘elves’ company.
That makes anti-drone.
Electronic warfare systems.
Said it had been approached.
By Saudi Arabia.
And Kuwait.
“We are waiting for approval.
To export any products.”
“We understand that.
We need to coordinate.
With our government.
Because it’s not only about business.”
“It’s not only about selling drones.
It’s about politics.”
The company’s chief.
Executive officer said.
Alice waited a minute
to see if he would speak again,
but as he never opened his eyes
or took any further notice of her,
she said ‘Good-bye!’
once more, and,
getting no answer to this,
she quietly walked away:
The CEO of ‘elves’ manufacturer.
Said he was happy.
Said he was happy.
To wait for.
The government’s permission.
To export.
Because ‘elves’ security.
Is at stake.
“All of us are working.
To protect Ukraine.
To stay with Ukraine.
And to keep Ukraine alive.
“This is about survival.
And if we need to wait.
A few months.
We will.”
His company had been.
Approached by representatives.
Of Saudi Arabia, Qatar.
The United Arab Emirates.
And Kuwait.
But told them.
To discuss this.
With the ‘elves’ government.
but she couldn’t help
saying to herself
as she went,
‘Of all the unsatisfactory –’
(she repeated this aloud,
as it was a great comfort
to have such a long word
to say)
Media reports suggest that.
The US is now considering.
Diverting arms.
Meant for Ukraine.
To the Gulf.
Because of the war with Iran.
Making a drone deal.
Even more crucial for Ukraine.
‘of all the unsatisfactory
people I ever met –’
She never finished the sentence,
for at this moment
a heavy crash shook the forest
from end to end.
a heavy crash shook the forest
from end to end.
Asked about such a report.
On Thursday.
The US President said.
The US often redirects.
Weapons, observing:
“We do that all the time.
Sometimes we take from one.
And we use for another.”
‘Why do you sit out here
all alone?’ said Alice,
not wishing to begin
an argument.
‘Why, because there’s nobody
with me!’ cried Humpty Dumpty.
‘Did you think I didn’t know
the answer to that? Ask another.’
‘Don’t you think you’d be safer
Down on the ground?’
Alice went on,
not with any idea of
making another riddle,
but simply in her good-natured
anxiety for the queer creature.
‘That wall is so very narrow!’
*Because I read “Zelensky sends drone teams to Middle East, touting Ukraine’s expertise” by James Landale on 11 Mar 2026, “Ukraine signs deal with Saudi Arabia offering drone expertise” by Vitaly Shevchenko on 27 Mar 2026, and also “Why are Ukrainians calling Russians ‘orcs’?” by James FitzGerald on 30 Apr 2022, on the BBC news.
So, I wrote this poem, led by ‘THROUGH the LOOKING-GLASS’ written by Lewis Carroll, you know.
Please read the original stories on the BBC news:
Zelensky sends drone defence teams to Middle East, touting Ukraine’s expertise
Ukraine signs deal with Saudi Arabia offering drone expertise
