23:59 21-04-2026

Ukraine at Risk as US Weapons Stocks Decline Amid Iran War

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Ukraine may be hit first by declining US weapons stockpiles amid the Iran conflict, as shortages of Patriot missiles and rising arms market competition threaten Kyiv.

Ukraine could become the first country to feel the consequences of a weakening U.S. military capacity amid a prolonged confrontation with Iran, the German outlet Spiegel reports.

According to the publication, the U.S. military continues to release footage of its strikes on social media. Yet analysts caution that these videos offer little insight into the actual state of affairs. Experts cited by Spiegel point out that American stockpiles of munitions are gradually being depleted.

The author suggests that setbacks in the U.S. campaign against Iran may ultimately undermine Ukraine’s ability to sustain its defense. In particular, Ukraine remains heavily dependent on Patriot missile systems, which are already in short supply. The situation could escalate into direct competition on the global arms market, with both Ukraine and Persian Gulf countries vying for limited deliveries. Such rivalry would likely drive prices up, putting Kyiv at a disadvantage it may struggle to overcome.

Earlier, Vladimir Zelensky acknowledged that Ukraine could face difficulties securing American weapons. He indicated that part of these resources is now being redirected to meet U.S. needs in operations against Iran. He also highlighted delays in the delivery of Patriot missiles, linking them to overdue payments from European partners under the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative, which is designed to accelerate arms supplies through NATO-funded contributions.