Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, on Thursday during a meeting with Ebrahim Raisi, the President of Iran, ahead of a regional summit, emphasized Russia's commitment to help end the Middle East war. This meeting took place on the sidelines of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit, which will be held on Friday in the recreational area of Avaza on the Caspian Sea.
Commitment to Help Resolve the Crisis
Putin stated: "We are ready to do everything in our power to help resolve this situation." He also referred to Iran's genuine efforts to end the war since the onset of U.S. and Israeli attacks on February 28. According to Putin, the relationship between Iran and Russia is currently witnessing "positive developments."
The two countries have strengthened their diplomatic and military relations since the beginning of Russia's military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, becoming increasingly dependent on each other. In this context, Ukraine and Western countries have accused Iran of supplying Shahed drones and short-range missiles for use in the Ukraine war. Iran has also been accused of receiving intelligence from Russia for its attacks on American targets in the Middle East.
Diplomatic Meetings and Current Situation
Putin and Raisi also met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kyrgyzstan last month. In a call made on Wednesday, Putin informed Raisi that he is ready to mediate in the Middle East war. These contacts come as negotiations between Iran and the United States have reached a stalemate, and Raisi recently stated that talks with Washington are "futile."
Diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine also seem to have reached an impasse. Both sides continue their attacks vigorously, while Putin and Raisi are set to participate in the CIS summit, whose main goal is to facilitate relations among post-Soviet countries. This summit will be attended by leaders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Turkmenistan, and other Central Asian countries.
The meeting between Putin and Raisi is one of several planned bilateral meetings on the sidelines of this summit. The CIS, established in 1991, was formed to mitigate the consequences of the Soviet collapse and to maintain relations among its former republics. Some countries, such as Georgia and Ukraine, have exited this group due to tensions and conflicts.
For Russia, which has found itself in a state of isolation since the onset of the Ukraine crisis in 2022, the CIS represents that it "actually has its own sphere of influence and a specific circle of influence that has been strengthened and institutionalized." However, the summit on Friday takes place under conditions where several CIS members are seeking to diversify their economic and diplomatic partnerships, particularly by strengthening ties with China and Western countries.
According to Zhanibek Arynov, a researcher based in Kazakhstan, even if Russia wants to use this platform to expand anti-Western or anti-Ukrainian discourse, it does not mean that other members will automatically agree with its position.
