Russia Emerges as the True Victor in the Israel-Iran Conflict

Key Points - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned on Friday that the escalating Israel-Iran conflict is inadvertently helping Russia by driving up global oil prices, which in turn increases Moscow's energy revenues and fuels its war machine.

-Zelenskyy expressed frustration over the lack of effective enforcement of price caps on Russian oil and revealed that critical military aid, including 20,000 anti-drone interceptor missiles, had been diverted from Ukraine to the Middle East.

-He also floated, for the first time, a potential link between the deployment of a foreign reassurance force in Ukraine and Kyiv's willingness to make territorial compromises with Russia.

Zelensky Says Middle East Crisis Helps Russia in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sounded the alarm over the knock-on effects of the Israel-Iran escalation, warning that the spike in global oil prices is inadvertently fuelling Russia’s war machine.

In remarks delivered in Kyiv on Friday, but embargoed until Saturday afternoon, Zelensky stated bluntly: “The Russians are getting stronger due to greater income from oil exports.”

Crude prices surged by up to 7% following Israel’s recent strikes on Iranian targets and Tehran’s swift retaliation, stoking fears of wider conflict in the region. While global attention has turned to the Middle East, Zelensky cautioned that Ukraine may be the unintended casualty of shifting Western priorities.

The Ukrainian leader expressed frustration at what he described as a lack of effective enforcement of price caps on Russian oil. “This is negative for us,” he said, suggesting that sanctions alone, without rigorous implementation, are failing to check Russia’s financial resilience .

Zelensky also revealed that critical military aid previously earmarked for Ukraine was diverted. This included a shipment of 20,000 interceptor missiles to counter Iranian-made Shahed drones, which was diverted to Israel during the October conflict. “And for us it was a blow,” he said, as Ukraine faces hundreds of drone attacks daily.

Adding insult to injury, Zelensky claimed that an Israeli-supplied Barak-8 air defense system promised to Ukraine was sent to the U.S. for servicing but never returned. “We were counting on those missiles,” he said.

He is also seeking renewed clarity from Washington amid what he described as growing European hesitation. “Europe has not yet decided for itself that it will be with Ukraine completely if America is not there,” he said.

The “Coalition of the Willing”, the 31-nation grouping, backing Ukraine, has offered to send a foreign reassurance force to deter Russian aggression .

But Zelensky acknowledged that this offer hinges on American backing. He also floated, for the first time, a link between the presence of foreign troops in Ukraine and Kyiv’s willingness to make territorial compromises with Moscow.

Meanwhile, progress on humanitarian fronts appears limited. Although 1,200 Ukrainian bodies were returned by Russia following peace talks in Istanbul, Russia reportedly received none in return on Saturday. A new exchange of wounded and ill prisoners did take place, but the numbers remain undisclosed.

While both sides continue negotiations , the violence persists. Russia launched 58 drones at Ukraine over the weekend: 23 were destroyed, 20 jammed. One man was killed in the Kherson region. Ukraine’s military had no comment on Russia’s claim to have captured the village of Zelenyi Kut in Donetsk.

In a separate development, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a 50-minute phone call with Trump to discuss both Ukraine and the Middle East. According to Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov, Trump expressed “interest in a speedy end” to the war.

About the Author:

Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.

Submarines Like No Other

Japan Might Have a Stealth Submarine the U.S. Navy Would Love

Virginia-Class: The Best Submarine Ever?

Los Angeles-Class: The Sub the Navy Can't Retire?

Please follow National Security Journal on MSN for the latest news in defense, foreign policy, economics, and politics with a bipartisan twist.