The fast-escalating conflict in the Middle East has caused panic around the world – but for one country, it may be thought to have “tactical” benefits. While the war in Ukraine continues to rage, with drone attacks launched from both sides over the weekend, Vladimir Putin is hoping that the recent explosion of tensions between Iran and Israel will dominate international focus, it has been suggested.
According to the Moscow-based daily newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets, the situation in the Middle East – which reached a head when Israel launched strikes against Iran last week – had “pluses … on a tactical level” for Russia. The renewed focus of world leaders on the conflict, which is set to dominate discussions at the G7 on Monday, could see Putin’s long-running military campaign in Ukraine slip under the radar, the news outlet added, controversially claiming that “Kyiv has been forgotten”. The business newspaper Kommersant also echoed these sentiments in its Monday issue, suggesting the tension between Iran and Israel “alters the priorities for Western military assistance”.
The daily paper even suggested that Russia could play an arbitration role in Middle Eastern neogitations, as a way of “strengthening its influence in the region”, as per the BBC.
However, it also warned that continued escalation of the Iran-Israel conflict could have serious repercussions for Moscow.
“The fact remains that Russia was unable to prevent Israel’s mass strike on a country with which five months ago, Russia signed a comprehensive strategic partnership,” Kommersant said.
The partnership ratified between Russia and Iran in March included a provision for shared efforts to combat mutual threats, but didn’t specify any kind of military alliance.
The Iran-Israel conflict has shown no sign of de-escalating as it entered its fourth day, with rockets and drones continuing to be launched by both sides.
The Iranian Health Ministry said 224 people had been killed as of Sunday, with spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour adding on social media that 1,277 had been hospitalised since tensions erupted on Friday – over 90% of whom were civilians.
While the situation in the Middle East is set to be the main discussion point in today’s G7 talks, Sir Keir Starmer said the allies would also discuss introducing new sanctions on Russia as Putin continues to resist the prospect of a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also expected to attend the conference in Canada, and the UK Prime Minister told reporters that his presence would provide “a good opportunity” for considering additional sanctions.
He sid: “My long-standing view is [that] we need to get Russia to the table for an unconfitional ceasefire. That’s not really been straightforward. But we do need to be clear about [the] need to get to the table, and that if that doesn’t happen, sanctions will undoubtedly be part of the discussion at the G7.”