According to a report by The Times of Israel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has alleged that Russia is directly supporting the Iranian regime by providing critical intelligence and satellite imagery.
According to Zelensky, this cooperation is specifically designed to facilitate Iranian strikes amidst ongoing U.S. and Israeli military operations in the region.
Zelensky claimed that Moscow’s involvement is not merely incidental but a deliberate strategic move to destabilize the Middle East.
He noted that the sharing of intelligence has been a consistent pattern since the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“We know that Russia made images using satellites and they share this information with the Iranian regime,” Zelensky stated. “I think Russia is supporting Iran directly, 100%. The same format of sharing satellite images like they did in the case of Ukraine.”
The Ukrainian leader suggested that the Kremlin’s motivation lies in its desire to distract Western allies. By assisting Tehran in prolonging regional conflicts, Russia hopes to divert U.S. attention and military resources away from the Ukrainian front.
Addressing the diplomatic distance between Kyiv and Jerusalem, Zelensky observed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained a cautious balancing act between Ukraine and Russia.
He noted that despite the clear evidence of Russia aiding Israel’s primary adversary, Iran, the Israeli government has remained hesitant to fully align with Ukraine.
Zelensky revealed that his direct communication with Netanyahu has been minimal, with their last face-to-face meeting occurring in October 2023 at the United Nations.
“My feeling is that the prime minister always wants to balance between Russia and Ukraine,” Zelensky said. “And even when Russia is helping Iran, I feel that [the] prime minister, still, is balancing.”
Despite the current diplomatic chill, Zelensky expressed a strong desire to break the impasse.
He signaled that Ukraine possesses unique battlefield expertise particularly in intercepting Iranian-made drones that could be invaluable to Israel’s defense.
When asked for a direct message to the Israeli Prime Minister, Zelensky hinted at a potential “quid pro quo” arrangement that could benefit both nations’ security interests.
“We have what he needs, he has what we need. We are ready for this dialogue,” Zelensky remarked.