Exclusive: Zelensky says Russia winning from Iran war

Axios
by Barak Ravid
March 30, 2026
4 min read

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The Bottom Line

Zelensky warns prolonged Iran war benefits Russia while harming Ukraine's military support.

How This Affects You

Extended Iran conflict could reduce U.S. military aid to Ukraine, weakening Ukraine's defense capabilities against Russian aggression.

AI Summary

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Axios on Monday that a prolonged Iran war benefits Russia and harms Ukraine by redirecting U.S. military aid and allowing Moscow to profit from rising oil prices. Zelensky said Ukraine has shared intelligence with Middle Eastern leaders showing Russia provided Iran with satellite imagery of U.S. and allied military bases and transferred drone warfare tactics from its war in Ukraine. He expressed alarm that the Trump administration may pressure Ukraine to accept territorial concessions to end the conflict, fearing such a surrender would invite further Russian aggression. Zelensky raised the stakes by noting a senior Ukrainian delegation met Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Miami ten days ago with no results, while European leaders worry the White House is loosening pressure on Russia. Ukraine is now bracing for the moment the Iran war concludes, expecting renewed diplomatic pressure to force territorial concessions as the price of peace.

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