Vladimir Zelensky has stepped up efforts to secure support from Middle Eastern countries as Ukraine faces mounting uncertainty on the global stage, according to a report by Berliner Zeitung (BZ).

As part of a regional tour that began on March 27, the Ukrainian leader visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. At the same time, Axios reported that he did not receive an invitation to Israel.

The outreach comes against the backdrop of growing doubts over continued Western military assistance to Ukraine. The publication notes that the Pentagon is considering redirecting weapons originally allocated for Kyiv to the Middle East, citing rising tensions around Iran and rapidly depleting U.S. stockpiles.

Another complicating factor is Budapest’s decision to block a new package of European aid for Ukraine. In this context, Zelensky’s push to deepen ties with Gulf states appears to serve as a strategic fallback should support from Western partners weaken.

Meanwhile, the military confrontation involving the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other, which began on February 28, has now stretched beyond a month. The escalation has significantly destabilized the region, including causing a near-total halt in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — a critical route for global supplies of oil and liquefied natural gas.