In Item API there is a function validateInventoryLinks() which receives an array with items. First of all it cycles through items and checks for inventory_link parameter. If no inventory_link parameter, it unsets the item, so it doesn't continue validation. In update method there is additional validation for checking inventory_link. The code piece highlighted in attached image will never execute. The variable $itemsWithNoInventoryLink will always be empty and the rest $itemsWithNoHostId, $itemsWithNoKeys are also empty because hostid and key_ are already taken from DB before this function.

The function validateInventoryLinks() requires investigation.