Ukraine war briefing: Pentagon reportedly considering whether to divert aid from Ukraine to Middle East

Key Points:

• The Pentagon is considering redirecting weapons originally intended for Ukraine, including air defence interceptor missiles, to address escalating US military needs in the Middle East amid intensified conflict with Iran, though no final decision has been made.
• Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss regional tensions and the Ukrainian crisis, with Zelenskyy reiterating Ukraine's offer to assist with Iranian drone threats.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin has requested donations from oligarchs to support Russia’s shrinking defence budget, which has been severely impacted by US sanctions and discounted oil sales, while the Kremlin has raised VAT to boost revenue.
• Ukraine is intensifying long-range strikes on Russian energy infrastructure to sustain pressure as international sanctions on Russian oil are temporarily eased, with Zelenskyy emphasizing Ukraine’s unique sanctions capacity through military action.
• Russia condemned the UK’s plan to detain Russian vessels as a hostile act and warned of retaliatory political, legal, and asymmetric measures, following UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s authorization to disrupt Russian oil exports via maritime enforcement.