Putin is trying to divert the world’s attention from the war in Ukraine by “turning” toward the Middle East — this is the conclusion reached by analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW)
According to their information, Russian President Vladimir Putin is actively engaging in diplomatic efforts precisely in the direction that will help him distract global attention from the prolonged and exhausting war unfolding on Ukrainian territory. Experts interpret this tactic as an attempt to open a new chapter in international relations, demonstrating Russia as an “effective and necessary” international actor capable of cooperating with the United States on Middle Eastern issues — despite tensions surrounding Ukraine and difficulties in relations with the West overall. According to the ISW report, the Kremlin is currently focusing on diplomatic initiatives related to the Middle East, possibly with the aim of reducing international criticism of its aggression against Ukraine. Analysts remind that on June 14, U.S. President Donald Trump noted in a conversation with Putin that their discussion lasted about an hour and was mainly dedicated to the situation in the Middle East — in particular, regarding Israel’s recent strikes on Iran. It is worth adding that during the same interview, Trump mentioned that the discussion about the war in Ukraine was significantly shorter and received less attention compared to the regional situation. According to Yuri Ushakov, assistant to the Russian leader, Putin and Trump focused primarily on escalating conflict in the Middle East; the Russian leader expressed concern about the growing tension between Iran and Israel and offered his help in resolving the situation through diplomatic negotiations. Meanwhile, Donald Trump commented on this conversation, emphasizing that he told Putin that the war in Ukraine should be brought to an end more quickly and that the conflict in Europe should be resolved. According to ISW, Putin is very likely trying to divert the world's attention from his prolonged and exhausting aggressive campaign against Ukraine by offering the United States assistance as a mediator in resolving conflicts in the Middle East. This policy demonstrates a clear strategy — to portray Russia as a key global player and to distract from sanctions, military losses, and internal crises arising from the war against Ukraine. At the same time, reports from France add another dimension to the situation. President Emmanuel Macron rejected the idea of Vladimir Putin participating as a mediator in peace negotiations between Israel and Iran — a proposal put forward by former U.S. President Donald Trump. In his statement, Macron emphasized that dialogue with the Russian Supreme Leader regarding conflicts in the Middle East is unacceptable and contradicts international norms and values. Thus, it is clear that Moscow is currently doing everything possible to create the illusion of active external diplomacy, which misleads the world about the real state of affairs in the war against Ukraine. In conditions of isolation and sanctions, Putin’s strategy is to create the impression that Russia is at the center of international negotiation processes and can influence global conflicts, while at the same time trying to divert attention from his losing strategy in the war against the Ukrainian people. Whether this plan will succeed in distracting the international community from the true causes and consequences of Russian aggression remains a big question, as Ukrainians and their allies daily remind us of the unprecedented value of freedom and independence.