Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russia is strengthening cooperation with Iran and expanding military coordination with North Korea and China. The claim was reported on July 27, 2026, citing an interview Zelenskyy gave to Sky News.

Zelenskyy said North Korea could send 30,000 troops to Russia, while Iran could provide additional missiles. Asked whether he was concerned about a possible Iranian attack on Ukraine, he said Tehran had already become involved in the war by supplying weapons to Russia.

He said Ukrainians could not trust Iran, arguing that Iranians had supplied weapons from the very beginning, even when Ukraine had not produced any weapons on its side. Zelenskyy said everything must be done to prevent another new battlefield from emerging, adding that Iranians and North Koreans had already attacked Ukraine.