As television screens and diplomatic agendas fill with coverage of the escalating conflict in the Middle East, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a quiet but urgent plea: do not forget Ukraine. Speaking as he announced that Ukraine would assist US and regional allies in countering Iranian drone attacks, Zelenskyy warned that the shift in global attention carries real risks for his country’s security and peace process.
Zelenskyy confirmed that planned US-brokered peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have been postponed due to the Iran situation, and expressed frustration with the delay. He warned that Russia is likely using the global distraction to press its military advantage and avoid the diplomatic pressure that would otherwise force it toward a negotiated settlement. Ukraine’s peace, he argued, cannot wait indefinitely.
At the same time, Zelenskyy is not simply asking for attention — he is earning it. By offering drone defense assistance to the US and Gulf states facing Iranian Shahed threats, Ukraine is demonstrating that it is an active contributor to global security rather than merely a passive recipient of international support. He confirmed conversations with leaders from five countries and the fulfillment of a formal US request for drone defense equipment and experts.
Ukraine’s ability to contribute is grounded in real capability. Its engineers developed low-cost Shahed interceptors costing as little as $1,000 per unit through four years of combat experience, producing systems that are now in demand globally. This expertise keeps Ukraine relevant to the world’s most important governments even as the news cycle shifts to other crises.
Zelenskyy expressed cautious optimism about Ukraine’s trajectory. Recent frontline gains demonstrate that the country is holding its own militarily. Expanding defense partnerships are building the international coalition Ukraine needs. And the intrinsic importance of the Ukraine conflict — to European security, global stability, and the rules-based order — will ensure that the world eventually refocuses on the task of helping Ukraine achieve a just and lasting peace.
Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Must Not Be Forgotten While the World Watches Iran
