EditZelenskyy steps up diplomatic offensive against Iran and North Korea
Kyiv intensifies diplomatic pressure on Tehran and Pyongyang as Zelenskyy prepares for talks with Trump in Washington
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has intensified Kyiv’s diplomatic pressure on Iran, arguing that Tehran has been a de facto participant in Russia’s war since the first year of the full-scale invasion by supplying drones, military technology and weapons to Moscow.
The remarks form part of Ukraine’s broader effort to frame the conflict not as a purely bilateral war with Russia but as a confrontation with a network of states supporting the Kremlin, including Iran and North Korea.
Speaking to Sky News, Zelenskyy rejected suggestions that tensions with Iran should be viewed separately from Russia’s invasion, following Tehran’s allegations that Ukraine attacked an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea on 25 July. According to Iranian authorities, one sailor was killed and another injured in the incident.
Zelenskyy insisted that Iran’s military assistance to Russia amounted to direct participation in the conflict, even if Tehran was not formally engaged on the battlefield.
“What do you think, if Iran transferred new technologies to Russia in the first year of the war? They supplied Shahed drones. They delivered thousands of them during the first year of the war and later granted production licences. Did they attack us? I believe they did,” he said.
After more than four years of war, Ukraine has itself become a significant developer of advanced autonomous drone technologies and AI-enabled battlefield systems. The regional context has also shifted following the recent conflict involving Israel, the United States and Iran, with Kyiv seeking to position itself as a relevant geopolitical actor beyond the European theatre.
Avoiding a new front while remaining clear-eyed
Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine must avoid opening another front while remaining realistic about the support Russia continues to receive from both Iran and North Korea.
“We must be cautious. We have to do everything possible to avoid opening a new front under any circumstances, but we must also be honest. Iranians and North Koreans have already attacked us. I hope they will not intensify those attacks, but we have to be prepared for every scenario. We simply cannot trust these people,” he said.
From the outset of the invasion, he noted, both countries supplied Russia with military equipment, including drones, missiles and artillery ammunition. Zelenskyy further stated that Russia is seeking an additional 30,000 troops from North Korea and has been preparing facilities in the Voronezh region since June to receive them. Pyongyang is also preparing to transfer extra launchers for ballistic missiles to Moscow. This deepening cooperation, he warned, allows Russia to help North Korea improve its weapons and gain real combat experience, posing a threat not only to Ukraine but to countries across Asia within range of North Korean missiles.
The Ukrainian president also said Kyiv had detected intensified Russian satellite surveillance of Gulf states and U.S. military facilities in the region. By linking Russia’s activities to Middle Eastern security, Zelenskyy is signalling that Moscow’s actions, together with those of its partners, extend beyond Ukraine and affect the wider regional security architecture — a message also aimed at reinforcing the case for continued U.S. military and intelligence support.
New peace proposals expected
Meanwhile, Reuters reported that Washington is preparing a new set of proposals aimed at ending the war, with one of the central elements being a halt to reciprocal long-range aerial strikes. The initiative is currently under discussion between Washington and Kyiv before being presented to Moscow. Zelenskyy is expected to travel to the United States on Tuesday, 28 July, for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Sources: Sky news, Suspilne, Reuters
Caption: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends a press conference with Secretary-General of NATO Mark Rutte (not pictured) at the NATO Defense Industry Forum in Ankara, Turkey, 7 July 2026. EPA/FILIP SINGER
Updated: July 27, 2026 - 10:45
