War in Iran Strengthens Russia, Threatens Ukraine’s Air Defenses

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the war in Iran strengthens Russia, drains US and European resources, and could limit Ukraine’s access to air defense systems.

In an interview with the United News telethon, he stressed that Russia is facing serious economic problems.

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“A budget deficit of $100 billion cannot be covered by a short war in the Middle East. So far, they have covered only 10%, no more,” he said.

At the same time, Zelensky warned that the conflict in Iran is shifting the broader geopolitical balance.

“It strengthens the Russians, depletes the Americans and Europe’s energy reserves. It creates pressure: where will China be? It’s difficult to be a mediator in this situation. This is a serious energy challenge for everyone.”

“A war in Iran will lead to wider aggression not only in the Middle East. And it will limit Ukraine’s access to air defense,” he added.

Zelensky also commented on restrictions on social media in Russia, saying they are not primarily about limiting criticism of Kremlin’s leader Vladimir Putin, but about preventing unrest.

“Why could riots occur in the northern neighbor? First of all, a large mobilization in Russia – from central cities, including Moscow and St. Petersburg. The restrictions indicate that no one in Russia will accept mobilization of this level.”

According to him, Russia is currently relying on contract recruitment, but this approach has limits. To add a million to one-and-a-half million personnel to the active army, mobilization is needed, because attracting such a number through contracts is too expensive, Zelensky added.

He outlined two possible scenarios:

“Why a large mobilization? To repeat a large offensive against Ukraine. Or option B, which involves fewer costs and less effort, is to launch a parallel small offensive where it is possible to limit yourself to a smaller number of combat forces.”

Zelensky also addressed the export of Ukrainian weapons, stressing that the front must remain the priority.

“I am open to the following formula: please export everything to our front, and after that – to any of the partner countries. But the priority is this: the countries that are the largest donors, the countries that constantly help us during the war with money, missiles and political support.”

He highlighted that Ukraine’s success in developing naval drones was made possible with international support.

“There are several European countries that have historically had extensive experience in developing their fleets at sea. These are Britain, Norway, the Netherlands – key countries that helped us with some technologies.”

“We managed to build a fleet of Ukrainian naval drones thanks to our partners,” he added.

Zelensky said Ukraine is currently investing $30 billion into its defense sector, largely funded by partners, while its capacity could reach $60 billion.

He also revealed the scale of Ukraine’s defense industry:

“Today, there are 200 very strong Ukrainian defense companies, and 30 of them are among the world’s top.”

These companies produce drones, demining systems, ground robotic platforms, artillery, and armored vehicles.

“My task is not to lose Ukraine’s reputation,” he said, emphasizing the importance of government-to-government agreements and competition among private firms.

He stressed that Ukraine’s economy is no longer defined only by agriculture.

“Made in Ukraine is an expensive brand today. I constantly emphasize to representatives of the private sector: the price of this product is not only money, technology, but also the lives of people who used our equipment,” Zelensky said.

Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine’s strategic goal remains EU membership.

“If some EU representatives do not make mistakes, we will be there. We are already strengthening the EU, primarily from a security point of view.”

He also floated a broader vision of a stronger European security framework.

“These are four countries that the European Union lacks: Norway, Ukraine, Britain, Turkey,” he said. “Turkey and Ukraine have an army that is stronger than Russia’s, from control of the Black Sea to control of airspace.”

Despite political complexities, he argued that such a grouping could significantly strengthen Europe.

“I still believe that these four countries will make the EU the strongest union in the world with the best security,” he said. “We are not looking for an alternative… but these four countries separately are definitely a very strong union.”

Julia is a Deputy Head of News and correspondent for Kyiv Post who has previously worked as a parliamentary editor, journalist, and news editor. She has specialized in covering the work of the Ukrainian parliament, government, and law enforcement agencies.