Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused the United States of ignoring intelligence reports that suggest Russia is actively aiding Iran in targeting American military bases in the Middle East. Zelenskyy attributed this inaction to a misplaced trust in Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking on the podcastThe Rest Is Politics, Zelenskyy stated that Russian military satellites have been photographing critical infrastructure in Israel and the Gulf states. He alleged that Moscow is funneling this data to Iran to assist in planning strikes against U.S. forces in the region.
"I said this publicly. Did we hear a reaction from the US to Russia that they have to stop it? The problem is they trust Putin. And it's a pity," Zelenskyy said.
Concerns over diplomatic negotiations
Zelenskyy also criticized the approach taken by U.S. President Donald Trump’s team regarding potential negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. He suggested that Trump’s negotiators, specifically Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, have failed to grasp the reality of Russia's objectives.
According to the Ukrainian leader, the U.S. envoys have prioritized engagement with the Kremlin, visiting Moscow five times while failing to visit Kyiv even once. Zelenskyy argued that these negotiators have spent too much time with Putin and his senior officials, leading to a distorted view of the conflict.
"They failed to really understand the details of what Russia wants," Zelenskyy noted. He warned that Putin’s ambitions extend far beyond the Donbas region, predicting that Russian forces will eventually attempt to capture key oblast centers such as Kharkiv and Dnipro.
Zelenskyy expressed frustration that some American officials view the loss of Donbas as a minor concession. He maintained that his understanding of Putin’s psychological motivations and long-term military strategy is more accurate than the current assessments coming from the White House.
These comments follow recent statements from U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who suggested that bargaining over small amounts of Ukrainian territory is inappropriate. Meanwhile, Kyiv continues to work with the U.S. on documents aimed at establishing a framework for potential peace talks, although Zelenskyy’s latest remarks highlight a deepening rift in perception between the two allies.
