Ukraine’s Zelensky fears Iran war may lead to less support to fight Russia’s invasion

Ukrainian experts work at the site of a Russian drone strike on a residential area in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Friday.

Photo: EPA Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed concern that a prolonged US-Israeli war on Iran could further erode America’s support for Ukraine as Washington’s global priorities shift and Kyiv braces for reduced deliveries of critically needed Patriot air-defence missiles.

Ukraine desperately needed more US-made Patriot air defence systems to help it counter Russia’s daily barrages, Zelensky said, speaking to The Associated Press in an exclusive interview on Saturday in Istanbul.

Russia’s relentless pounding of urban areas behind the front line following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago has killed thousands of civilians.

It has also targeted Ukraine’s energy supply to disrupt the industrial production of Ukraine’s newly developed drones and missiles, while also denying civilians heat and running water in winter. “We have to recognise that we are not the priority for today,” Zelensky said. “That’s why I am afraid a long [Iran] war will give us less support.” The latest US-brokered talks between envoys from Moscow and Kyiv ended in February with no sign of a breakthrough.

Zelensky, who has accused Russia of “trying to drag out negotiations” while it presses on with its invasion, said Ukraine remained in contact with US negotiators about a potential deal to end the war and had continued to press for stronger security guarantees.

But, he said, even those discussions reflected a broader loss of focus from Ukraine.

His most immediate concern, Zelensky said, was the Patriots – essential for intercepting Russian ballistic missiles – as Ukraine still lacked an effective alternative.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Istanbul, Turkey, on Saturday.

Photo: AP These US systems were never delivered in sufficient quantities to begin with, Zelensky said, and if the Iran war did not end soon, “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 said.

Zelensky has been counting on European partners to help make the Patriot purchases despite tight supply and limited US production capacity.

But the Iran war, now in its sixth week, has sent shock waves through the global economy and pulled in much of the wider Middle East region, further straining these already limite

原文链接: 南华早报