Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. File
| Photo Credit: AP
Ukraine does not want to lose U.S. support for its struggle against Russia as a result of Washington’s war with Iran, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told journalists.
“We don’t want to lose the Americans” while they are “without a doubt currently preoccupied with the Middle East”, the Ukrainian leader told the press, including AFP reporters, on Saturday (March 14, 2026). His comments were under embargo until Sunday (March 15).
“We are showing our willingness to help the United States and their allies in the Middle East” by offering to share Ukraine’s drone expertise, and “we strongly hope that as a result of the Middle East, the United States will not turn its back on the question of the war in Ukraine”, he added.
Ukraine wants money, technology in return for West Asia drone help: Zelenskyy
Ukraine wants money and technology in return for helping West Asian nations defend against Iranian kamikaze drones, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, after Kyiv sent specialists to four countries in the region.
Mr. Zelenskyy told reporters in comments cleared for release that each of the three teams sent to West Asia consisted of dozens of people, who will conduct expert assessments and demonstrate how drone defences should operate.
“This is not about being involved in operations. We are not at war with Iran,” Mr. Zelenskyy said. “This is about protection and a thorough, complete assessment on our part of how to counter the Shaheds,” he added, referring to Shahed drones developed by Iran.
He said that what Ukraine will get in return for the assistance still needed to be discussed.
“Honestly, for us today, both the technology and the funding are important.”
Mr. Zelenskyy also said that he was unsure whether Ukraine and the U.S. would sign a deal on drone co-operation, which Kyiv has sought to agree for months.
(With inputs from AFP and Reuters)
Published – March 15, 2026 02:14 pm IST
