Zelensky Orders Diplomats to Track Host Country Missile Stockpiles

President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered Ukrainian diplomats to monitor the missile stockpiles of their host countries and use the acquisition of military resources as a key performance indicator for their professional success. Addressing more than 100 diplomats in Kyiv on Monday, Zelensky stated that ambassadors must identify the quantity and location of air-defense missiles to ensure they are transferred to Ukraine.

The mandate extends beyond missiles to include securing weapons for combat aircraft, drone-production agreements, additional funding, and the expansion of sanctions against Russia. These instructions may place diplomatic staff in a sensitive position, as gathering detailed military inventory data can be interpreted as intelligence activity.

This directive comes amid reports of domestic political interference by Ukrainian representatives abroad. Aleksey Makeiev, the Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, was recently accused of meddling in German elections after urging voters to reject political parties that advocate for diplomacy with Russia.