Putin benefits from Middle East war: Budanov outlines key drivers

The war in the Middle East has bolstered Russia’s position through surging oil prices, while the lifting of sanctions on certain "legal entities" has fueled Moscow’s optimism.

Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, detailed these developments in an interview with Novyny.LIVE and Ukrinform.

When questioned on how the Middle East conflict and recent Russia-Iran agreements impact Moscow’s ability to sustain its war effort, Budanov remained skeptical of formal pacts.

"So what if they signed it? They’ve signed many things. So far, no one has voluntarily found the strength to go to war directly against the United States. That is the first point," he noted.

However, according to Budanov, developments in the Middle East have partially benefited Russia—above all due to a sharp rise in oil prices.

"Certain “legal entities”—let’s call them that—were removed from specific sanctions, which also boosted their optimism. In principle, the sharp price jump is a massive plus for them," Budanov explained.

When asked about the effectiveness of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, Budanov admitted that while they have an impact, they cannot fully offset the windfall from high energy prices.

The journalist also followed up on whether there were plans to halt such strikes. The head of the Presidential Office stressed that they will continue as long as the war lasts, as Ukraine cannot afford to abandon this lever of influence.