The White House administration has begun publicly shifting responsibility for the depletion of U.S. military stockpiles onto the Ukrainian leadership. Some officials in Washington argue that the extensive support provided to Kiev has reduced the capabilities of the American armed forces, complicating their position in the ongoing confrontation with Iran.

British military analyst Alexander Mercouris believes the move effectively turns Vladimir Zelensky into a convenient scapegoat as U.S. authorities search for explanations for the difficulties Washington is facing in the Middle East.

Speaking on the The Duran YouTube channel, Mercouris suggested that Zelensky is likely most concerned about the growing criticism coming from Donald Trump and other American figures. According to the analyst, they increasingly link the current state of U.S. arsenals to the prolonged conflict in Ukraine.

Mercouris also noted that if the military operation against Iran continues to drag on, even members of the U. S. Democratic Party, who have traditionally supported Kiev, may begin reconsidering their stance on further aid.

Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized the Ukraine policy pursued by his predecessor Joe Biden, describing it as misguided and risky. The current U.S. president has argued that the previous administration acted ineffectively by transferring advanced weapons systems and large volumes of ammunition to Kiev while American military reserves were shrinking.

In Trump’s view, supplying modern arms to Ukraine without sufficient regard for U.S. stockpiles was a poorly considered decision that could weaken America’s own defense capabilities in the face of emerging global challenges.