LONDON, March 18 — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged continued Western support for Kyiv on Wednesday, calling Russia and Iran “brothers in hatred” during talks in London and warning that the war in the Middle East is diverting attention and resources away from the conflict in Eastern Europe. He said the Middle East fighting boosts Moscow — notably through higher oil revenues — and could restrict Ukraine’s access to Western air defence systems, while offering Ukraine’s anti‑drone technology to help allies counter Iranian drones.
Zelenskyy held separate meetings with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street and with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, stressing Ukraine’s resilience and its technology‑driven defence capabilities, including drones and artificial intelligence. The London discussions, attended by NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte, focused on energy security and battlefield conditions, officials said.
European figures at the talks, including EU diplomat Kaja Kallas and Finland’s President Alexander Stubb, warned that the Iran conflict strengthens Russia economically and militarily and could therefore undermine Ukraine’s security. Analysts at the meeting cautioned that increased U.S. and Western attention on the Middle East risks slowing delivery of critical systems to Kyiv, including advanced air‑defence equipment needed to intercept missiles and drones.
Ukraine has positioned itself as a global leader in high‑tech drone defence and has sent more than 200 military experts to the Gulf to assist partners in countering Iranian drones that have also been used by Russian forces. During the visit, Ukraine and the UK signed an agreement intended to pair Ukrainian technical expertise with British industrial capacity to produce drones and supporting systems; the package also includes a Britain‑funded AI Center of Excellence. Zelenskyy said these battlefield‑tested innovations can protect allies and save lives.
On the ground, Ukrainian forces continue counterattacks in eastern and southern sectors. Zelenskyy said those operations have disrupted a planned March offensive by Moscow. Russia reported intercepting 206 Ukrainian drones overnight, including about 40 aimed at Moscow. The Institute for the Study of War assessed that Ukrainian strikes are likely constraining some Russian operations, underscoring Kyiv’s continued resilience even as international attention shifts toward the Middle East. (AP)
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/03/19/zelenskyy-starmer-urge-ukraine-aid-amid-iran-conflict/
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Publish Date: 2026-03-19 05:22:00
