The Middle East conflict has partially eclipsed developments in Ukraine, with the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz having far bigger global energy ramifications than Kyiv’s attacks on Russia’s oil sector. But Ukraine’s drone strikes are now having a serious impact on Russia’s oil exports, refining capacity, domestic fuel supplies and military logistics — an outcome that can't be separated from the US' abdication of its leadership role under US President Donald Trump compared with the Biden administration. Biden's support gave the US leverage to rein in Ukrainian strikes it feared would spike prices. Kyiv is now less beholden and able to play "cards" that Trump claimed it lacked, helped by EU funding. In another twist, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has leveraged his country’s mastery of drone technology to build valuable ties with Gulf Arab state oil producers desperate to improve their defenses after the US and Israel's war on Iran — and limits to US missile defenses — left them exposed.