ANKARA 

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba submitted a proposal to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to sever diplomatic relations with Iran on Tuesday, as Ukraine-Iran relations became strained due to claims on Iran’s provision of drones to Russia. 

"Taking into account the numerous destructions caused by Iranian drones to the civil infrastructure of Ukraine, the deaths and sufferings caused to our people, as well as in connection with the emergence of reports about the possible continuation of Iran's supply of weapons to Russia, I submit to the consideration of the President of Ukraine a proposal to sever diplomatic relations with Iran," Kuleba said at a briefing for Ukrainian media outlets.

Kuleba noted that they will take a clear position on the matter from now on, reminding that they never took an anti-Iranian position until Iran became “an accomplice to the crime of aggression of Russia on Ukrainian territory.”

He further said they will talk about the restoration of bilateral relations with Iran if Tehran halts supplying weapons to Russia.​​​​​​​

Kuleba also stressed that Ukraine will officially turn to Israel with a request to begin deliveries of air defense systems.

“Today, Ukraine will send an official note to the Israeli government with a request to immediately provide Ukraine with air defense systems and begin high-quality cooperation in obtaining appropriate technologies for Ukraine,” he added.

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