MWE Correspondent
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that escalating tensions in the Middle East could further weaken Ukraine’s ability to defend its cities against Russian missile attacks, saying the diversion of American air defence weapons to the region is contributing to shortages on the Ukrainian battlefield.
In a statement, Zelenskyy said the consequences of a possible renewed US military strike against Iran would extend beyond the Middle East, affecting countries far from the conflict through rising prices, supply disruptions and increased competition for military equipment.
He said Ukraine was already experiencing shortages of weapons needed to intercept Russian ballistic missiles, particularly Patriot air defence interceptors, as military supplies were increasingly being directed towards the Middle East.
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“When we look for Patriot missiles to protect our cities and communities from Russian ballistic attacks, we face the same problem again and again – the missiles are going to the Middle East,” Zelenskyy said.
He added that Ukraine was being left with limited interception capabilities while Russian forces continued launching ballistic missiles against Ukrainian targets.
The Patriot system, manufactured by US defence contractor RTX, is among the most important air defence platforms supplied to Ukraine by Western partners. It is designed to intercept aircraft, cruise missiles and certain types of ballistic missiles, making it particularly important in defending major cities and critical infrastructure.
Ukraine has repeatedly called on the United States and European allies to provide additional Patriot systems and interceptor missiles as Russia continues its aerial campaign against the country.
