Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that the expanding US military campaign against Iran risks diverting critical air defense resources away from Ukraine, potentially leaving his country more vulnerable to intensified attacks from Russian forces led by Vladimir Putin.
He expressed concern that the growing conflict in the Middle East and Washington’s increasing military engagement there under Donald Trump, could reduce the availability of advanced missile defense systems for Kyiv at a pivotal moment in its war effort.
“The focus will shift to the Middle East, to the Iranian war now and to the United States and also to Israel,” Zelensky said, noting that countries in the Gulf are currently facing large-scale barrages of drones and missiles launched by Iran. “Our estimation, of course, is that air defense [for Ukraine] could decrease.”
President Zelensky emphasized that he was not lodging a complaint but outlining what he sees as a practical reality. The United States and its allies have deployed hundreds of interceptor missiles in recent weeks to defend against Iranian attacks, placing significant strain on stockpiles of sophisticated systems that are also central to Ukraine’s defense.
Ukraine relies heavily on American-made systems such as the Patriot missile system and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense to counter Russian ballistic missile strikes. These systems are among the few capable of intercepting high-speed ballistic projectiles, which travel in an arc through space and descend at hypersonic speeds. Russia has used such missiles extensively throughout the four-year war.
“They’re mostly in the United States,” Zelensky said of advanced air defense interceptors. “So they produce the air defenses and of course they will control this number and they will, I think, try to hold onto the package of such missiles. It’s understandable.”
While Ukraine has ramped up domestic production of short-range drone interceptors and has dispatched defense experts to Gulf states to advise on countering Iranian drone swarms, Zelensky acknowledged that Kyiv remains dependent on foreign suppliers for high-end missile defense systems. He said his government has contacted partner countries that purchase American weapons to explore options for securing additional supplies but has yet to receive firm commitments.
“My team knows about it and they now already have got the message from me that they have to prepare for such challenges,” he said.
Beyond immediate military concerns, Zelensky warned that the war with Iran could indirectly strengthen Moscow through surging energy prices. Crude oil prices have risen sharply since the outbreak of hostilities, fueled by fears over disruptions to shipping routes in the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
Higher oil prices benefit Russia, which continues to fund its war effort largely through energy exports despite Western sanctions. China and India remain major buyers of Russian crude, much of it transported by a so-called shadow fleet of tankers operating outside traditional insurance and monitoring frameworks.
“How Russia uses [the price boom] or not will depend on how our partners will work with the biggest importers,” Zelensky said, calling for tighter enforcement of sanctions and stronger action against vessels transporting Russian oil.
He added that he does not expect Russia’s drone and missile attacks to diminish as a result of US and Israeli strikes on Iran, despite Tehran’s role as a major supplier of Shahed drones to Moscow. According to Zelensky, Russia has localized much of the production of Iranian-designed drones on its own territory, reducing its reliance on direct shipments.
Zelensky was careful to avoid direct criticism of Washington, noting the sensitivity of relations with the Trump administration. However, he reiterated his longstanding argument that Moscow has not faced sufficient military or economic pressure to negotiate peace in good faith.
Last year, Zelensky traveled to Washington to urge approval for the transfer or sale of long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles for use by Ukraine. The effort was unsuccessful. Now, he noted, similar weapons are reportedly being used extensively in the campaign against Iran.
“You know how many I asked for from the United States? Two hundred, I said or just give us 100,” Zelensky said, contrasting his request with what he described as the large numbers deployed in the Middle East.
As global attention shifts toward the widening conflict with Iran, Kyiv faces the prospect of competing strategic priorities in Washington and other Western capitals. For Zelensky, the concern is not only battlefield dynamics but the durability of political and military support at a time when Ukraine remains locked in a grinding and costly war against Russia.
