“For Putin, a long war in Iran is a plus.” Volodymyr Zelensky tells how Ukraine is affected by the conflict in the Middle East
The war in Iran is to Putin's advantage because it has raised energy prices and is a problem for Ukraine because it has led to a “deficit” of missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with the BBC.
In addition, peace negotiations have been “constantly delayed” since the outbreak of war in the Middle East. The continuation of the war, which began on February 28, is for Zelenski “a very unpleasant feeling”.
“For Putin, a protracted war in Iran is an advantage,” he said. “In addition to energy prices, this means the depletion of US reserves and the inventory of manufacturers of air defense systems. So we are facing a shortage of resources.”
Shortage of missiles
A protracted war between the US – Israel and Iran will weaken Kiev, while American resources will be directed elsewhere. Zelensky mentioned here a shortage of Patriot missiles, which will be “a challenge” for the Ukrainian defense.
“America produces 60-65 missiles per month. Imagine, 65 missiles per month is about 700-800 missiles per year, produced every year,” he said. “And on the first day of the war in the Middle East, 803 missiles were fired.”
Donald Trump wanted to be a negotiator rather than take someone's side in the war in Ukraine, says Zelensky, who believes that Trump “wants to end this war”, but chose a strategy of close dialogue with Putin and “not to irritate him, because Europe irritated him, and Putin does not want to talk to Europe”.
