Istanbul: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed deep concern that an extended US-Israeli military campaign against Iran will erode vital American backing for his country, as Washington’s focus pivots amid escalating global tensions.
In an exclusive interview with the Associated Press, Zelenskyy underscored Ukraine’s pressing demand for more US Patriot air defence missile systems to shield against Russia’s persistent barrages, now routine more than four years since the full-scale invasion began.
These assaults have ravaged urban zones behind the lines, killing thousands of civilians. Russia has systematically hit energy grids, hampering Ukraine’s burgeoning production of drones and missiles while plunging households into winter darkness without heat or running water.
“We have to recognise that we are not the priority for today,” Zelenskyy said. “That’s why I am afraid a long (Iran) war will give us less support.”
The most recent US-facilitated discussions between Russian and Ukrainian representatives fizzled out in February, showing no path to resolution.
Zelenskyy, who has publicly accused Russia of “trying to drag out negotiations” even as it intensifies its territorial push, revealed that Kyiv maintains channels with US mediators toward a possible peace agreement fortified by ironclad security assurances.
However, he lamented, such talks themselves highlight a broader drift in international attention away from Ukraine’s plight.
At the top of his agenda are the Patriots, proven lifesavers against ballistic threats where few alternatives exist. “The US systems were never delivered in sufficient quantities to begin with,” Zelenskyy said, adding that if the Iran conflict — now six weeks old — persists, “the package — which is not very big for us — I think will be smaller and smaller day by day”.
“That’s why, of course, we are afraid,” he added.
He had pinned hopes on European partners to procure additional units, given strained US manufacturing and stockpiles. Yet the Iran conflict has unleashed economic turbulence worldwide, embroiled much of the Middle East, and siphoned critical resources — exacerbating exposures in Ukrainian cities to devastating strikes.
For Ukraine, the core war aim is to economically exhaust Russia, rendering the invasion unsustainable through sanctions and reduced revenues. Yet Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz — handling 20% of global oil flows — has driven crude prices above $120 per barrel, directly inflating Moscow’s windfall from energy exports despite Western embargoes.
Zelenskyy spotlighted a further Kremlin advantage: recent limited US easing of sanctions on Russian oil to stabilise markets amid shortages. “Russia gets additional money because of this, so yes, they have benefits,” he said. This influx, estimated at billions monthly by analysts, bolsters Russia’s military spending and drone procurement, blunting Ukraine’s pressure tactics and prolonging the front-line stalemate.
To counter this marginalisation,
Zelenskyy pitched Ukraine’s frontline innovations against Iranian-designed Shahed drones — re-engineered by Russia into the more elusive Geran-2 for mass deployment. Ukraine hit back with nimble, low-cost interceptors that pursue and dismantle incoming threats, alongside other technological adaptations.
He positioned this expertise for sharing with the US, its allies, and vulnerable Gulf Arab nations, including excess sea drones funded by Western aid. In exchange: “with anti-ballistic missiles”, he suggested.
As Iran hostilities peaked in late March, Zelensky toured Gulf states, forging new defence cooperation deals. He further marketed Ukraine’s prowess in protecting vital sea lanes, drawing from Black Sea successes to aid in restoring Hormuz passage and global commerce.
Zelenskyy was in Istanbul for summit talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a day after the Turkish leader’s conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He discussed peace talks and a possible meeting of leaders in Istanbul, plus fresh Turkey-Ukraine defence pacts soon.
