Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said on Sunday that he is worried about the consequences of the war in Iran on the situation in his country. According to the Ukrainian leader, Russian President Vladimir Putin will benefit from the war, reports TASR based on a report by the DPA agency.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyi fears the consequences of the war in Iran for Ukraine.
- Zelenskyy claims that the attention of the United States is shifting to the Middle East.
- According to Zelensky, the long war in Iran increases energy prices and depletes resources.
- The Ukrainian president expects a shortage of Patriot systems needed to defend Ukraine.
- Zelenskyy calls for tougher sanctions against Russia’s shadow fleet transporting oil and gas.
“I have a bad feeling about the impact of this war on the situation in Ukraine, and America’s attention has focused more on the Middle East than on Ukraine,” Zelensky said in an interview with the BBC. “Our diplomatic meetings, trilateral meetings, are constantly moving,” he pointed out. “There is one reason, the war in Iran,” stated the Ukrainian leader. According to him, the long war in Iran is a “plus” for the Russian president, while it leads to high energy prices and at the same time resources are running out.
“It is advantageous for Putin that resources are not directed to Ukraine,” said Zelensky. “He needs to weaken us, and that’s a long process. But (war) in the Middle East is one possible way,” he declared and added that there would certainly be a shortage of Patriot missiles, which could be available for Ukraine if needed.
At the same time, Zelenskyi on Sunday called on the allies to continue putting pressure on Russia through sanctions. He did so before the negotiations of the Ukrainian and US delegations dedicated to ending the war with Moscow. “Revenues give Russia a sense of impunity and the ability to continue the war. Therefore, the pressure must continue and the sanctions must work.” wrote Zelenskyj on the X platform and demanded the adoption of stricter measures against the so-called shadow fleet, Reuters writes.
“The fleet must not feel safe in European waters or anywhere else. Tankers that serve the war budget can and must be stopped and blocked, we must not just let them go.” he added. The fleet consists of old tankers transporting oil and gas around the world, bypassing Western restrictions.
