Zelenskiy Expresses Concerns Over Potential War in Iran

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has expressed a “very bad feeling” about the implications a war in Iran could have for Ukraine’s future. He worries that countries in the Middle East might accidentally destroy advanced air defense missiles, leading to a global shortage that could hit Ukraine especially hard.

Zelenskiy noted that as President Trump focuses on Iran, it’s likely that Putin is hoping for a prolonged conflict to maximize damage to Ukraine. He has stressed that this shift in focus not only diverts military supplies but also hampers diplomatic efforts aimed at peace talks.

“I have a very bad feeling about the impact of this war on Ukraine… The number of air defense missiles will be reduced. We just managed to survive last winter, but the next one is looming, and there will still be a shortage of anti-ballistic missiles. Unfortunately, America’s focus seems to be on the Middle East rather than Ukraine. Our diplomatic efforts are being delayed, and there’s a clear reason: the war in Iran,” he said.

Zelenskiy mentioned that the United States will inevitably require more military resources. If the U.S. depletes its missile stockpile, it will likely look to European allies for replenishment, which could mean fewer weapons available for Ukraine.

“While Ukraine has learned to manage its limited supply of advanced air defense missiles, many of our Western allies haven’t faced a similar shortage yet. They are using rare and costly interceptor missiles against relatively low-valued drones,” he remarked, highlighting the depletion of PAC-3 missiles in specific countries.

Zelenskiy pondered, “When will the reserves in the Middle East run out? America is currently producing 60-65 missiles a month. That’s about 700 to 800 missiles a year, and on the first day of the Middle East conflict, 803 missiles were already used.”

To address these challenges, European nations would need to provide more support to Ukraine, even as they maintain their own defense capabilities. “I may come off as a bit demanding, but this is a life-and-death issue for us,” he added.

Zelenskiy further commented on how the Kremlin might leverage the situation to its advantage. Putin could see a prolonged conflict in Iran as beneficial, weakening not just the U.S. but Ukrainian defenses too.

“For Putin, a long war in Iran can work in his favor. It could lead to higher energy prices, a depletion of U.S. reserves, and strain air defense manufacturers. He aims to weaken us, and that could take a while,” Zelenskiy explained.

This isn’t the first time Zelenskiy has raised such concerns. In March, he acknowledged the potential risks to Ukraine’s military support, noting how the Middle East has become a significant target for arms exports.

“It might become tougher to obtain missile and weapon support as the U.S. and its Middle Eastern allies may need those resources for their own defenses—a situation similar to what occurred when Israel faced attacks from Iran last year,” he noted.

Nevertheless, there’s a silver lining. Ukraine has been combating Iranian-designed Shahed drones for some time and is willing to share its expertise with the region.