The Kremlin is utilising the recent United States and Israeli military strikes on Iran to validate its ongoing war in Ukraine. Russian officials are pointing to the escalation in the Middle East as evidence that Western nations do not adhere to international rules.
Political analysts note that the Russian leadership is framing the invasion of Ukraine as a necessary preemptive measure. They believe that by highlighting the strikes on Tehran, Moscow aims to reinforce its narrative that it acted defensively to avoid a similar fate at the hands of Western powers.
High-ranking figures, such as Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, have used the situation to discredit American diplomacy. Medvedev argued that the recent events demonstrate the pointlessness of negotiating with Washington, hoping this message will resonate with Russia's international allies.
The Kremlin said on Monday (2 March) that Russia was in constant contact with the Iranian leadership about what it called the "outright aggression" against Tehran.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia was also in touch with the leadership of other countries that had been affected by the conflict, specifically those in the Gulf region.
"We are in constant contact with Iran’s leadership and are discussing the situation around the country. At the same time, we continue our dialogue with the leaders of the states affected by the conflict, including the countries of the Persian Gulf," said Peskov.
"As for the talks mediated by Oman between the United States and Iran, we can only express deep disappointment that, despite reports of significant progress in those negotiations, the situation nevertheless deteriorated to outright aggression," he added.
Despite signing a strategic partnership agreement with Iran in 2025, Moscow has signalled no intent to intervene militarily in the current Middle East conflict. Russian officials have clarified that their bilateral agreement does not include a mutual defence clause.
The Kremlin's decision to maintain a strategic distance comes as it continues to rely on Iranian-supplied weaponry, such as Shahed drones and ballistic missiles, for its operations in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently voiced support for the strikes on Iran, labelling the country an accomplice for providing Moscow with military technology.
Observers suggest that a prolonged conflict in the Middle East could ultimately serve Russian interests. The Kremlin anticipates that the crisis will divert U.S. attention and military resources away from Eastern Europe.
Analysists believe that a sustained shift in American focus could ease international pressure on Russian forces and potentially weaken Western financial and military support for Kyiv. This dynamic may allow Moscow to intensify its operations on the Ukrainian front while diplomatic efforts remain concentrated on stabilising the Middle East.
However, the Kremlin said that it was in Russia's own interests to continue peace talks with Ukraine and that Moscow's preference was still to reach a diplomatic settlement to end the fighting.
Peace talks have appeared deadlocked in recent weeks over Russia's insistence that Ukraine hand over the remaining part of its eastern Donbas region which Moscow does not control, an idea Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected.
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Qatar has confirmed that seven people, including four of its military personnel and three Turkish nationals, were killed on Sunday (22 March) when a helicopter crashed in the country’s territorial waters.
Georgia bid farewell to Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II on Sunday (22 March). He was considered one of the most influential spiritual leaders in the country’s modern history.
Palestinians have reported a surge in attacks by Israeli settlers on homes, vehicles, and residents across the West Bank, amid growing international criticism.
Belgium has marked the 10th-anniversary of the 2016 Brussels terror attacks, remembering the victims of the country’s deadliest peacetime attack and reflecting on changes to national security.
President Donald Trump said the U.S. was considering "winding down" its military operation against Iran, as Iran and Israel traded attacks on Saturday (21 March) and Iranian media said the nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz had been attacked.
Slovenia heads to the polls on Sunday (22 March) in a closely contested race between incumbent Prime Minister Robert Golob and right-wing former Prime Minister Janez Janša.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned that American forces could target Iranian power plants if the strategic Strait of Hormuz remains closed, and Iran, in return, warned that any attack on its energy infrastructure would trigger strikes on regional facilities.
Italy is voting on 22 and 23 March in a judicial reform referendum that could reshape the justice system and test Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s political strength ahead of the 2027 general election.
Iceland could reopen talks on joining the European Union after a 13-year pause, as shifting security concerns and renewed economic debate bring EU membership back to the centre of national politics.
Qatar has confirmed that seven people, including four of its military personnel and three Turkish nationals, were killed on Sunday (22 March) when a helicopter crashed in the country’s territorial waters.
Belgium has marked the 10th-anniversary of the 2016 Brussels terror attacks, remembering the victims of the country’s deadliest peacetime attack and reflecting on changes to national security.
A drone attack on a hospital in East Darfur, Sudan, has killed at least 64 people and injured 89 more, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported on Saturday.
Cuba’s national power grid went down on Saturday, cutting electricity for millions, officials said. The outage marks the second nationwide blackout in a week and the third major grid failure in March.
A British nuclear-powered submarine armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles has reportedly taken up position in the Arabian Sea, the Daily Mail reported on Saturday (21 March). The deployment gives the UK the ability to carry out long-range strikes if tensions in the Gulf escalate.
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