President of Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that a prolonged conflict in Iran could make it more difficult for Ukraine to secure air defense systems from the United States.
In an interview with CNN, Zelensky said Ukraine has received only a limited number of such systems due to restricted US production capacity, although he stressed that there have been no disruptions in deliveries so far.
He explained that Ukraine currently accesses US-made weapons through the PURL program, under which NATO member states finance the purchase of military equipment for Kyiv, including Patriot missile defense systems.
“Through this program, we can buy anti-ballistic missiles for Patriot systems and some other weapons, which are very important for us,” Zelensky said.
However, he warned that escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly involving Iran, could impact the availability of such military packages.
“And of course, given the major challenge of the war in the Middle East and Iran, all these packages are at risk,” he added.
Zelensky noted that Ukraine has received only a limited supply of air defense systems due to production constraints in the United States.
“If the war continues or a ceasefire is delayed… it will not be good. We could face greater risks regarding anti-ballistic missiles,” he said.
He also stated that Ukraine is sharing its battlefield experience, particularly in countering drone warfare, with several Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
“We will continue to cooperate with other countries,” Zelensky said, adding that Ukraine is offering both expertise and training support.
