LATIKA M BOURKE: The US is realising that Volodymyr Zelensky holds the cards — and some may be aces
Iran’s barrage of retaliatory strikes is a wake-up call for countries that have pretended the Russian-Ukraine conflict was a faraway concept
How the tables turn.
After being insulted and humiliated in the Oval Office around this time last year, the United States is suddenly realising that Volodymyr Zelensky not only holds a handful of cards, some of them may be aces.
“We received a request from the United States for specific support in protection against ‘shaheds’ in the Middle East region,” Zelensky wrote on X on Thursday.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“I gave instructions to provide the necessary means and ensure the presence of Ukrainian specialists who can guarantee the required security.
“Ukraine helps partners who help ensure our security and protect the lives of our people. Glory to Ukraine!”
Heroyam Slava indeed!
Iran and its proxies’ use of drones to attack Gulf states and target a British RAF base on Cyprus, which is an EU, but not NATO member, is an overdue wakeup call for those who have pretended Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine is a faraway abstract or will never directly affect them.
Europe learnt this lesson the hard way last year when a bunch of drones started harassing targets, including civilian airports across a string of NATO countries over a spate of months.
But many members of the so-called Global South still refused to contemplate that the conflict in Eastern Europe should matter to them.
Iran’s retaliatory strikes since Israel and the US bombed Tehran, wiping out the regime’s leadership, including the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have exposed this as an illusion.
So far, Iran has attacked 11 countries. Azerbaijan was added to the list on Thursday when a drone struck a terminal building at its international airport, located around 10 kilometres from its border with Iran.
On Wednesday, Iran threatened NATO member Turkey with a ballistic missile, which NATO systems intercepted.
Iran has fired more than 150 ballistic missiles, 800 missiles and launched more than 1600 drones since February 28, when the war began.
The UAE has borne the brunt of these attacks, with even luxury hotels targetted. Iran’s use of kamikaze drones is not surprising. They have been battle-testing and refining this crude technology, with deadly effect, over the skies of Ukraine.
Back in 2023, the US Defence Intelligence Agency travelled to London to declassify for foreign media, intelligence that showed Iran was supplying Shahed drones to Russia.
Cemetery of Missiles
On the outskirts of Kharkiv, around 20 kilometres from the Russian border a “Cemetery of Missiles” shows the brutal reality that Ukrainians have been living with for the last four years but Western allies are only just comprehending.
When The Nightly visited the sensitive site, the remnants of missiles and drones that had fallen across the city had more than doubled in volume since the year prior, according to one British source, who had visited the area before.
