Zelensky, Starmer urge continued support for Ukraine as Iran conflict steals focus

2026.03.17 21:50 UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, right, welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to 10 Downing Street in London on Tuesday. Photo: PA Wire / dpa Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Russia and Iran “brothers in hatred” on Tuesday as he sought support from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at a time when the Iran conflict has robbed momentum from US-brokered talks to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. During talks with Starmer at 10 Downing Street, Zelensky urged Ukraine’s allies not to forget about his country and suggested the US and others should make use of Ukraine’s anti-drone technology during a Middle East war that has also revived Russia’s ailing economy through increased oil revenue and could soon limit Kyiv’s access to vital Western air defence systems, which are needed in the Middle East. Russia ⁠has ⁠been expanding its intelligence sharing and ‌military cooperation with Iran, providing satellite imagery and ⁠improved drone technology ‌to aid Tehran’s targeting of ‌US forces in ⁠the ⁠region, ‌The Wall Street Journal ‌reported on ‌Tuesday, ‌citing people ⁠familiar with the matter. Reuters ⁠could not immediately verify ‌the ‌report. “The regimes in Russia and Iran are brothers in hatred and that is why they are brothers in weapons,” Zelensky told lawmakers in Britain’s Parliament. “And we want regimes built on hatred to never, never win in anything.” “[Russian President Vladimir] Putin can’t be the one who benefits from the conflict in Iran, whether that’s oil prices or the dropping of sanctions,” Starmer said. The meeting came days after the US temporarily waived some Russian oil sanctions in a bid to ease pressure on global supplies triggered by the unrest in the Middle East, which was sparked by the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran starting on February 28. Zelensky and some other European leaders criticised Washington’s move to ease sanctions, saying it would provide a windfall for Moscow to keep up its attacks on Ukraine.

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