Russian President Vladimir Putin knows how to find opportunity in crisis, and the metastasizing Iran war is the latest case in point. Putin began the year projecting confidence about his campaign to subjugate Ukraine, despite incremental progress on the battlefield. But despite the geopolitical optics, Putin appears to be keeping eyes on his main prize: dismantling an independent Ukraine. Russia may also have other geopolitical leverage when it comes to the Iran war. He’ll keep his eye on the ball.”For the time being, then, the global energy crisis may bring Putin new dividends as he presses on with his war on Ukraine.

Source: CNN March 11, 2026 05:31 UTC