Volodymyr Zelensky is sounding the alarm, warning that Ukraine is about to face a significant deficit of the Patriot missiles it desperately needs to fight Russia, as reported by the BBC. The Ukrainian president attributes this looming shortage directly to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which he says is diverting crucial resources and attention away from Ukraine’s four-year struggle.
In the BBC interview, Zelensky expressed a “very bad feeling” about the Middle East conflict’s impact on Ukraine, noting that peace negotiations are being “constantly postponed” because of the situation in Iran. He argues that Russia’s Vladimir Putin actually wants a “long war” between the United States, Israel, and Iran. This prolonged conflict, Zelensky suggests, would weaken Kyiv by siphoning off US resources and attention.
He highlighted a truly mind-boggling statistic regarding missile usage. Zelensky stated that America produces roughly 60-65 Patriot missiles per month, which works out to about 700-800 missiles annually. However, on just the first day of the Middle East war, an astonishing 803 missiles were reportedly used. This incredibly high usage rate means Ukraine will “definitely” face a deficit, a “challenge” that raises the question of “when will all the stockpiles in the Middle East be exhausted.”
For Putin, Zelensky explains, a long war in Iran is a huge plus
It not only drives up energy prices, which is a problem for Ukraine, but it also depletes US reserves and the production capacity of air defense manufacturers. This ultimately means a “depletion of resources” for Ukraine.
Zelensky also shed some light on President Trump’s approach to the conflict, noting that the president wants to be a negotiator rather than picking a side in Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s illegal invasion. Zelensky believes President Trump “wants to finish this war.” However, he added that President Trump and his advisers have opted for a strategy of close dialogue with Putin, choosing “not to irritate him because Europe irritated him and Putin does not want to talk to Europe.”
The Ukrainian president also weighed in on the diplomatic friction between President Trump and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, which has intensified with the Middle East conflict. Zelensky urged both leaders to meet and find common ground, hoping they could “re-load the relationship” and arrive at a “common position.”
President Trump, in his latest critique on Tuesday, called Starmer “no Winston Churchill,” expressing disappointment despite thinking the UK prime minister is a “nice man.” Sir Keir, for his part, has maintained that the UK won’t be drawn into a wider war, with Downing Street affirming the “enduring” US-UK relationship.
Published: Mar 18, 2026 12:45 pm