The war with Iran demonstrated a truth that is always understood only after the struggle begins: military actions are always practice, not theory. The United States developed a plan for an air attack and the destruction of the military potential of the Islamic Republic, but in the first days of the war, they spent millions of dollars fighting Iranian "Shaheds" — the very same Shaheds that Ukrainians "met" in the first months of Russia's war against Ukraine and which continue to terrorize our country for the fifth year.

By the way, back in 2022, I wrote that Iranians supply drones to the Russians not just for money. Ukraine turned out to be a real testing ground for Iran to practice for future wars in the Middle East. Iranians were helping their ally in the Kremlin — and at the same time learning themselves.

And now these new wars have begun — and it turned out that Iran's opponents were unable to prepare for them and fell into not only a security but also a financial trap. The very appeal to Ukraine for help in combating Iranian drones is a good proof of this.

Four years of the Russian-Ukrainian war is an important experience for both armies. And it can be said that today modern warfare is being practiced in both Moscow and Kyiv. Only Russia plays for a different team. It helps Iran and North Korea, conducts joint military exercises with China, and is interested in destabilizing Europe. Russians will help Iranians strike American targets, not explain to American military how to defend against enemy attacks.

So the civilized world today has only the experience of the Ukrainian army — and this is invaluable experience. Because the Ukrainian army over these four years has not just been learning modern warfare and creating modern warfare. It has also been practicing the experience of countering a smaller opponent to a larger one — that is, Ukrainians can understand Iran's tactics. And it is Ukrainians who can explain how to defend against Iran and how to force its regime to abandon aggressive actions towards neighbors — actions that are already destabilizing the global economy and can quickly lead to unforeseen collapse.

Yes, the US and Israel's war against Iran can lead to many risks for Ukraine. This includes rising oil prices, which could give Putin the opportunity to replenish the Russian budget with new petrodollars. And a possible missile defense shortage — if drones are shot down with "Patriot" missiles, this shortage will be felt in the coming weeks. And let's not forget how many countries will now be "hunting" for missile defenses.

But along with this, the necessity of joint actions to counter authoritarian regimes becomes obvious. Of course, one can ignore Russia's true intentions — but that's like ignoring the elephant in the room. Sooner or later, President Trump's administration will simply have to agree with the simple conclusion: without Ukrainian experience, it is impossible to ensure the security of American military facilities in the Middle East (and beyond) and to generally understand the logic of modern warfare.

And this means the necessity to help Ukraine fend off Russian aggression, rather than nurturing dangerous illusions about understanding with Putin.