Conflicts

The Ukrainian government has criticized the deepening of military cooperation between Russia and Iran and expressed deep concern over reports that Tehran could deliver ballistic missiles to Moscow.

"The strengthening of military-technical cooperation between Russia and Iran poses serious threats to the security not only of Ukraine, but also of the whole of Europe, the Middle East and the world," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on its website.

"We call on the international community to increase pressure on Tehran and Moscow in order to protect international peace and security," it added, before calling on Iran to "prevent any delivery of weapons and military equipment to Russia".

Official US and European sources, cited by the Wall Street Journal, said that Iran had sent short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, as part of the escalation of the military offensive in eastern Ukraine.

(MH with FM/Source: Wall Street Journal/Photo: Andy Cat/Unsplash)