Russia blackmailed US with threat to share intel with Iran, Zelenskyy says
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia attempted to blackmail the United States by offering to stop sharing intelligence with Iran in exchange for halting the transfer of US intelligence to Ukraine, Reuters reports.
According to the President, Ukrainian intelligence has data indicating that cooperation between Moscow and Tehran continues.
"I have reports from our intelligence services showing that Russia is doing this and saying: 'I will not pass on intelligence to Iran if America stops passing intelligence to Ukraine.' Isn't that blackmail? Absolutely," he said.
Zelenskyy also said that some Iranian drones used in attacks on US and allied military facilities during the war in the Middle East contained Russian components.
The President recalled that since the start of the full-scale war, Ukraine has been constantly targeted by Iranian-made Shahed drones, which Russia actively uses against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
At the same time, he noted that Ukraine is already helping several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, counter drone attacks on their territory.
Zelenskyy also expressed hope that long-term agreements could be reached with some countries in the region. According to him, such deals could help finance the production of Ukrainian interceptor drones or the purchase of necessary air defense missiles.
Russia is assisting Iran in the war
In early March, The Washington Post reported that Russia was providing Iran with information about the locations of US military facilities in the Middle East.
Washington initially sought to downplay the reports, saying they did not affect the situation, as Iranian forces had already been defeated.
At the same time, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said that Vladimir Putin had denied such accusations during a conversation with Donald Trump.
Later, Trump himself suggested that Russia is helping Iran "a little bit."
On March 15, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia had supplied Iran with drones and information about US military bases.
