Russia sees advantages in the Iran-Israel conflict due to distractions from Ukraine, potential propaganda benefits, and increased influence in the Middle East.
When Hamas launched its attack on Israeli settlements on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people, according to Israeli government data, President Volodymyr Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials condemned the terror and supported Israel's right to defend itself. Zelensky has compared Hamas to Russia, while his chief of staff Andriy Yermak suggested that Israel's fight with Hamas and Ukraine's defensive war are "elements of an asymmetric war waged against the free world by the' axis of evil'." Combined with deteriorating relations between Israel and Russia, Kyiv's position fueled hopes that Israel would get tough on Moscow and consider military aid for Ukraine.
In Ukraine, A Faraway Mideast War Hits Close To Home globalsecurity.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from globalsecurity.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Hopes of better ties with Israel, fears of faltering international support: As Ukrainians battle the Russian invasion, the Israel-Hamas war emerges as a substantial new factor.