Zelenskiy heads to France as Iran war distracts from Ukraine

by John Ireland

PARIS, March 13 (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will arrive in Paris on Friday to seek assurances of support from one of Kiev’s key Western allies, as war in the Middle East distracts from Ukraine’s fight against Russia.

The widening conflict has raised questions about the supply of weapons (especially air defense) from Western partners to Ukraine, as Gulf Arab states reduce their own air defense stockpiles to repel daily attacks by Iran.

Zelenskiy warned that Ukraine’s serious shortage of air defense missiles would worsen. He said this week that Gulf states used more PAC-3 air defense missiles against Iranian attacks in a few days than Kiev received from Washington in four years.

Zelenskiy did not specify the source of his figures.

The war also causes an increase in the price of oil, an important source of income for Russia, while Kiev remains in a difficult financial situation.

The European Union has yet to agree on a 90 billion euro loan proposal that would partly provide funds for Kiev to buy weapons. Ukraine hopes to have the loan available by mid-April.

“The main message and the main purpose of this visit is to show that no crisis, no development can distract our attention from Ukraine, which continues to be a major security problem for us,” an official from the French Presidency told reporters before the visit. he said.

“Our support for Ukraine will not waver.”

Zelenskyy has sought to show Gulf Arab states, many of which have close ties to Moscow, that Ukraine can be a useful and reliable partner.

The Ukrainian leader offered Ukraine anti-drone technology in exchange for air defense missiles.

Ukraine sent experts and officials to four Middle Eastern countries this week as part of those efforts.

(Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Richard Lough)