Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran's last shah, in Paris on March 13, 2026. He expressed the desire for a free Iran that does not cooperate with Russia. The meeting occurs amid Iran's support for Russia in the Ukraine war.
On March 13, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Reza Pahlavi in Paris. During the meeting, Zelensky reaffirmed Kyiv's support for a free Iran, stating that his country wishes to see a regime that refuses cooperation with Russia and avoids destabilizing the Middle East, Europe, and the world.
At war with Russia for four years, Ukraine suffers from the military support Iran provides to Moscow, including long-range Shahed drones. These devices, used extensively to strike Ukrainian infrastructure, are now produced in Russia under the name Geran-2. Zelensky emphasized the importance that the Iranian regime gains no benefit from the current conflict, allowing the Iranian people to decide their future.
Reza Pahlavi, exiled in the United States and positioning himself as a potential alternative leader for Iran if the theocratic republic, led by Mojtaba Khamenei, were to collapse, received Zelensky's assurances. The Ukrainian president stated on X: 'I am grateful to the crown prince for his clear assurances of support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Our teams will remain in contact.'
This discussion highlights Ukraine's concerns over the Middle East conflict, which risks diverting international attention from Kyiv's needs for anti-air missiles, crucial against Russian attacks but also used in the Gulf region.
