ISTANBUL (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that a prolonged conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran could further weaken American backing for Ukraine, as Washington’s strategic attention shifts and Kyiv prepares for possible reductions in deliveries of vital Patriot air defense missiles.

In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press late Saturday in Istanbul, Zelenskyy said Ukraine urgently requires additional U.S.-manufactured Patriot systems to defend against Russia’s daily missile attacks.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion more than four years ago, it has relentlessly struck cities far from the front lines, killing thousands of civilians. Moscow has also targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, aiming to disrupt production of newly developed Ukrainian drones and missiles, while depriving civilians of heat and water during the winter months.

“We must admit that today we are not the main priority,” Zelenskyy said. “That is why I worry that a long war with Iran will mean less support for us.”

A loss of focus on Ukraine

The most recent round of U.S.-mediated talks between representatives from Moscow and Kyiv concluded in February without tangible progress. Zelenskyy, who has accused Russia of deliberately prolonging negotiations while continuing its military campaign, said Ukraine remains engaged with American officials about a potential peace agreement and continues to push for firm security guarantees.

However, he noted that even these discussions reflect a broader decline in global attention to Ukraine’s war.

Zelenskyy emphasized that his immediate concern centers on Patriot systems, which are critical for intercepting Russian ballistic missiles. Ukraine currently has no equally effective alternative.

He added that the systems provided so far were never sufficient. If the Iran conflict drags on, “the package — which is already not very large for us — may shrink further each day.”

“That is why we are, of course, concerned,” he said.

Interlinked wars

Zelenskyy had hoped European allies would assist in financing additional Patriot systems, despite tight global supplies and limited U.S. production capacity.

But the Iran war, now entering its sixth week, has shaken global markets and drawn in much of the Middle East. The conflict has further strained already limited military stockpiles, redirected resources, and left Ukrainian cities increasingly vulnerable to ballistic missile strikes.

For Kyiv, a central objective has been to weaken Russia’s economy and raise the financial cost of the war. However, rising oil prices — fueled in part by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz — have strengthened Russia’s energy revenues, enhancing the Kremlin’s ability to sustain its military operations.

Zelenskyy said Moscow is benefiting economically from the Middle East conflict, pointing to limited U.S. easing of sanctions on Russian oil exports.

“Russia is receiving additional funds because of this situation, so yes, they are benefiting,” he said.

Russian authorities reported Sunday that a fire erupted at a major oil refinery in the Nizhny Novgorod region following a drone attack. Another drone strike reportedly damaged a pipeline at the Baltic Sea port of Primorsk, a key oil export hub. Officials said no casualties were recorded.

With oil prices rising and temporary adjustments to sanctions intended to ease global supply pressures, Russia could see further financial gains. As one of the world’s leading oil exporters, Moscow has found growing demand among Asian buyers amid mounting energy uncertainty.

In response, Ukraine has intensified its long-range drone strikes targeting Russian oil infrastructure, operations that have unsettled the Kremlin.

A renewed diplomatic push

To keep Ukraine firmly on the international agenda, Zelenskyy has proposed sharing the country’s battlefield experience with the United States and its partners to help develop defenses against Iranian threats.

Ukraine has steadily adapted to Russia’s use of Iranian-made Shahed drones, countering them with technological innovation and cost-effective solutions.

After Russia modified the original Shahed-136 drones — rebranded as the Geran-2 — to improve their evasion capabilities and facilitate mass production, Ukraine responded by rapidly developing its own countermeasures, including affordable interceptor drones capable of tracking and destroying incoming threats.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine is prepared to share its expertise and technologies — including interceptor and sea drones — with Gulf Arab nations facing Iranian threats. These systems are produced in sufficient numbers, funded by American and European support.

In exchange, he suggested, those countries could assist Ukraine in obtaining anti-ballistic missile systems.

In late March, as tensions in the Middle East escalated, Zelenskyy visited several Gulf states to highlight Ukraine’s experience in countering Iranian-designed drones, leading to new agreements on defense cooperation.

He has also presented Ukraine as a potential contributor to global maritime security, offering to share lessons learned from securing shipping corridors in the Black Sea to help ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Zelenskyy was in Istanbul for discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin the previous day.

According to Zelenskyy, the talks covered prospects for renewed peace negotiations and the possibility of a leaders’ summit in Istanbul. He added that additional defense agreements between Ukraine and Turkey could soon be finalized.

Russia steps up its spring offensive

As spring advances each year, Russia typically intensifies its war effort. Despite this, it has failed to capture major Ukrainian cities and has achieved only gradual gains in rural areas. Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including the Crimean Peninsula, which it annexed in 2014.

Along the approximately 1,250-kilometer (750-mile) front line spanning eastern and southern Ukraine, Ukrainian forces — stretched thin — are bracing for a renewed push from Russia’s larger army.

Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, said Russian troops have recently launched coordinated attempts to breach defensive positions across several key sectors.

Zelenskyy reiterated that one principle remains unchanged: Ukraine will not agree to territorial concessions or surrender land as part of any settlement.