Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Moscow’s widespread use of Iranian-made drones in recent attacks on his country was a symbol of the Kremlin’s “military and political bankruptcy”.
“The very fact of Russia’s appeal to Iran for such assistance is the Kremlin’s recognition of its military and political bankruptcy,” Zelensky said in his daily address.
But, he added, “strategically, it will not help them anyway.”
“It only further proves to the world that Russia is on the path of defeat and is trying to draw someone else into its accomplices in terror,” Zelensky said.
He didn’t commit to a proposal from his Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, on Tuesday that Kyiv cut diplomatic ties with Iran.
“We will definitely ensure an appropriate international reaction to this,” Zelensky said, referring to the use of the drones.
Kyiv and its Western allies have accused Moscow of using Iranian-made drones in attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks. The Kremlin said Tuesday it had no knowledge of its army using such weapons.
Tehran said it was ready for talks with Kyiv to clarify the “baseless” claims that Iran is providing Russia with the drones.
