Kyiv hopes to turn US president against Vladimir Putin by highlighting co-operation between Moscow and Tehran
Diplomatic Editor
Published 27 July 2026
An Iranian cargo ship in the Caspian Sea does not, at first, seem like an obvious target for Ukrainian drones.
But more than 500 miles away from Kyiv – and just days before meeting Donald Trump at the White House – Volodymyr Zelenskywanted to make an important point.
The ship, which has not been named, was allegedly carrying military cargo between Russia and Iran.
Iran has long been supplying Shahed dronesto Russia for its war against Ukraine. Now Russia is fitting them with powerful jet engines, and is believed to be sending them back to Iran for its war against the US.
Ukraine blew the ship out of the water, killing one crew member. Mr Zelensky hopes that proving Russia is aiding Iran will persuade Mr Trump to turn against Vladimir Putin.
The Ukrainian president has more evidence to back up his case.
He says Russian satellites have been monitoring US bases across the Middle East to co-ordinate the Islamic Republic’s strikes, and wants Mr Trump to take a look.
“I will instruct our intelligence to share with our partners the information we have regarding Russia’s new assistance to the Iranian regime,” he said.
“Since the beginning of July, we have recorded active Russian satellite surveillance of the Gulf states and US military facilities located there.
“These images subsequently appear in Iran. At the same time, there is a clear correlation between Russia’s satellite imagery of these sites and Iranian strikes – both before the attacks, in preparation for them, and afterward, to assess the damage inflicted.”
Volodymyr Zelensky is hoping he can persuade Donald Trump to turn against Vladimir Putin Credit: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Corroborating the Ukrainian president’s claim, a Western defence source told The Telegraph that there had been a notable improvement in Iran’s precision strikes and target selection since a ceasefire with the US broke down earlier this month.
The source compared it to the initial Western reluctance to support Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s invasion.
“Ukraine managed to hold out and did well, and then our arms supplies, intelligence support broadened and deepened significantly after the first week,” they said.
By reinforcing the alliance between Russia and Iran, Mr Zelensky hopes that it will create more wriggle room among Mr Trump’s Maga supporters for him to aid Ukraine.
One of the American Maga movement’s cheerleaders, Laura Loomer, travelled to Kyiv and interviewed the Ukrainian president this week. While on the trip, the independent journalist accused Russia of funding Iran and providing it with explosives used against US servicemen.
Last week, the Pentagon released the names of three troops believed to have been killed in an Iranian strike in Jordan. A fourth also died during a controlled detonation of an Iranian drone in northern Iraq.
It took the number of Americans killed since the Iran war broke out to 18.
Despite Russia’s alleged support for Iran, Mr Trump has been reluctant to criticise Putin. It is also believed the US president’s potential level of support for Kyiv is hamstrung by the Maga movement’s refusal to engage with foreign wars.
The striking of the Iranian cargo ship can be viewed as a similar attempt to demonstrate why US conservatives should throw their weight behind Ukraine.
Confirming the strike, Tehran accused Ukraine of “an act of aggression that could further inflame and expand the flames of war”, claiming the attack targeted a commercial vessel.
Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, summoned Ukraine’s leading diplomat to be rebuked, and also called on Kaja Kallas, the EU’s most senior diplomat, to condemn Ukraine.
The strike marks a convergence between two conflicts that have dominated Western diplomacy and brought a spiked global energy prices.
Mr Zelensky is hoping that Putin can be blamed for both.
Comment from :
Freddie Niche
Starting to warm to Zelensky.
Finbar Saunders
Ukraine and Zelensky, a shining light in the darkness.
JUDY EDGE
Very believable. I would trust Zelensky every time.
J Beattie
Iran getting a taste of their own medicine, only this time it’s a legitimate target carrying weapons. Instead of a civilian tanker transiting international waters. Well done Ukraine.
Wallaseyan Teal
Well done, Ukraine.
Hin Hin
This is a brilliant move on the part of President Zelensky & his military advisors. It is the most obvious way to convince the Americans that the US should join hands with the Ukrainians in battling the Russo-Iranian axis. The wars in Ukraine & Iran are inextricably linked together.
Daniel Kay
Iranian drones have been responsible for killing hundreds of Ukrainian women and children. They are one of the most vile dictatorships on the planet – worse than cancer and need to be eradicated. they do not provide any value to the human race or any creature on the planet and only so dissent, disorder and destruction. Ukraine made a fantastic strategic move to blow up that ship now Russia will need to find another ship and another batch of drone engines to supply Iran that otherwise would’ve been used to destroy Ukrainian homes killing more women and children. This act alone has saved many innocent civilian lives.
William Haslam
Interesting piece today on the reality of Russia. 93 detention centres in occupied Ukraine and 103 in Russia. With at least 16000 Ukrainian civilians currently in them or murdered from within them. Favourite Russian tactics are the usual ones: torture, sexual abuse, the torture and killing of family pets, violence, the torture, kidnapping and killing of multiple pastors and a level of war crimes that we don’t yet even know about. To add to the 213,000 registered war crimes that Russia has committed in Ukraine, so far.
Gary Miller
Zelensky’s a smart fellow. He is leading the reluctant Donald to see that the Russia-Iranian Axis is a problem. If the USA leaders were not so dense, if the president were not under the thumb of Putin, they’d form a clear alliance with Ukraine and have them help further in the Iranian action.
R B Lucas
Putin has something over Trump – whatever that is Trump will never go against Putin.
Martin Murdoch
Zelenskyy may try and persuade Trump to support Ukraine but Trump is too scared to go up militarily against Russia, as a bully he knows his capabilities and at present he’s to scared of Putin, period.
Charlston Pointer
Reply to Martin Murdoch – view message
Part of any US reluctance to commit to Ukraine is likely because US stockpiles of air defence and other ‘key’ munitions are being eaten up at a rate that does not allow numbers to be quickly replenished. One estimate suggests certain munitions will not return to pre-conflict levels until 2029/30.
This puts the US on the back foot if another conflict were to break out, such as over Taiwan. Hopefully, the Chinese are too pragmatic to go toe to toe with the US and, like the US, will sustain significant cost (although possibly less than the US because of geography), so have a longer term outlook on the matter. However, those who see the US as an obstacle to their goals will be aware that stockpiles of the munitions the US and it’s allies use are being depleted. Allies will be even more exposedas they may have to wait until beyond 2030 to get their stockpiles back to where they were before the troubles in the middle east and southeastern Europe broke out.
This is why the UK and Europe need to be able to stand on their own in the defence of their homelands.
Daryl Linson
Perhaps Trump should have a regiment of Ukrainian drone operators keeping an eye on the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranians would soon be terrified of popping up out of their tunnels.
Person Without A Cervix
Don’t waste your breath. Trump & Farage both love ❤️ Vladimir Putin’s Russia 🇷🇺
Hue Jarsse
Dear President Zelensky, please tell Trump he ‘doesn’t have the cards’ in your coming meeting. Would love to see the expression on his face…
Paul R Wisgerhof
We know for a fact that Russia and Iran have been cooperating militarily since before the Ukraine/Russia war began in 2022. Any ship going to/from Russia and Iran in the Caspian Sea, or anywhere else for that matter, is an appropriate target for Ukraine.
Malcolm McIntyre
We need Ukraine in NATO. We certainly do not want them under Putin’s jackboot.
And we all know Russia cannot be trusted ( Budapest Memorandum) so any ceasefire offered by Putin and Trump’s acolytes who have never been to Kyiv, should be treated as null and void.
Star comment here :
Daniel Kay :
“Iranian drones have been responsible for killing hundreds of Ukrainian women and children. They are one of the most vile dictatorships on the planet – worse than cancer and need to be eradicated. they do not provide any value to the human race or any creature on the planet and only so dissent, disorder and destruction. Ukraine made a fantastic strategic move to blow up that ship now Russia will need to find another ship and another batch of drone engines to supply Iran that otherwise would’ve been used to destroy Ukrainian homes killing more women and children. This act alone has saved many innocent civilian lives.”
“Worse than cancer.”
Could not agree more.
Russian pro-war blogger warns of deteriorating conditions in Crimea
https://www.uawire.org/russian-pro-war-blogger-warns-of-deteriorating-conditions-in-crimea#google_vignette
Scabby with some kremkrapp :