The war with Iran is negatively affecting support for Ukraine, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy repeatedly warns that international attention and resources are increasingly shifting toward the Middle East. US President Donald Trump confirmed this development, stating that the United States is prepared to redirect weapons shipments originally intended for Ukraine to the Middle East in response to the military escalation involving Iran.
Trump described the redistribution of weapons as standard practice and pointed to extensive munitions stockpiles that can be flexibly reassigned between different theaters. He also clarified that the United States is no longer directly supplying weapons to Ukraine, but instead sells them to NATO member states, which then pass them on to Kyiv. This approach aligns with the strategy pursued by the White House for several months.
According to reports, the Pentagon is also considering whether to divert interceptor missiles originally designated for NATO purchases for Ukraine to the Middle East. The backdrop is the strained situation surrounding US bases in the region, which have struggled to effectively intercept incoming Iranian missiles and drones.
An attack on the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on Friday wounded at least a dozen US troops, several of them seriously, and also damaged expensive US Air Force aircraft.
At the same time, Ukraine has for months been stressing its urgent need for air defense systems such as Patriot missiles, as Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities continue unabated and cause significant destruction.
Zelenskyy stated in early March that the duration and intensity of the war directly affect the amount of air defense available and described this support as vital for the country’s survival.
Source: ZeroHedge