Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine will provide assistance to the United States and its Middle Eastern allies in countering Iranian drones, as reported by multiple sources including AP News, BBC, and Reuters. This decision comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and a surge in global oil prices due to the ongoing conflict.
Key Takeaways
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine will assist the U.S. and its Middle Eastern allies in countering Iranian drones. This decision comes as the Iran war has diverted global attention from Europe's largest conflict since World War II and postponed Russia-Ukraine peace talks.
- Ukrainian experts to start work 'in the next few days'
- Zelenskyy spoke with leaders of UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait about cooperation
- U.S. Treasury allowed India a 30-day waiver to buy Russian oil amid surging prices
- Russia's Dmitriev discussed global energy crisis with U.S. counterparts
According to bbc.com, Zelenskyy stated that teams of Ukrainian military experts have been sent to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. He emphasized Ukraine's expertise in countering attack drones, noting that his country has developed cost-effective drone killers that have gained international attention for their effectiveness in air defense.
The U.S. requested assistance to protect its bases and soldiers in certain countries in the region. Zelenskyy mentioned he had spoken with leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait about possible cooperation. A source familiar with the matter said Zelenskyy instructed his military to provide this aid, and Ukrainian experts are expected to start work 'in the next few days,' as reported by apnews.com.
The Iran war, now in its sixth day, has drawn global focus away from Europe's largest conflict since World War II. It has also led to the postponement of a new round of U.S.-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine planned for this week, according to news.sky.com. Meanwhile, the US Treasury Department allowed India to buy Russian oil for 30 days as global prices surged due to the ongoing conflict in Iran. The price of crude oil soared 8.5% on Friday and was up nearly 30% for the week after President Donald Trump stated that only the 'unconditional surrender' of Iran would end the Middle East war.
Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev discussed the global energy crisis with U.S. counterparts in Florida, emphasizing the systemic role of Russian oil and gas in stabilizing the global economy. Dmitriev noted that sanctions against Russia are ineffective and destructive, according to remarks posted on his Telegram channel. The discussions included a variety of topics aimed at restoring Russian-American relations and addressing the current crisis in global energy markets. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that teams agreed to stay in touch following the meeting.
Zelenskyy also criticized the U.S. for issuing a 30-day waiver on Russian oil sanctions, stating that easing of sanctions could provide Russia with about $10 billion for its war efforts. He believes lifting sanctions will strengthen Russia's position and lead to more attacks on Ukraine, as reported by apnews.com. Analysts say spiraling oil prices due to Persian Gulf production blockages are benefiting the Russian economy.
The Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the U.S. sanctions waiver on Russian oil is an attempt to stabilize global energy markets, as reported by reuters.com. 'Without significant volumes of Russian oil entering the market, such stabilization is impossible,' Peskov said.
The lifting of sanctions allows Russia to sell oil to more customers, including Thailand. The easing of US sanctions on Russian oil marks a reversal of policy from the Trump administration. Russia has been pocketing as much as $150 million a day in extra oil revenues due to global energy supply disruptions.
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