KYIV: Fighting between Iran and Israel could deflect global attention from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and even bolster Kremlin’s war effort, Ukrainian officials say. Israel launched a massive bombing campaign on Iran last week that prompted Tehran — a close ally of Russia — to strike back with missiles and drones. The conflict has pushed up the price of oil — a key revenue stream funding Russia’s invasion. “For Ukraine, the challenge is the price of oil, because if prices remain high for a long time, the Russians will earn more,” a senior Ukrainian political source told AFP.

The longer Israel's military operation goes on, the greater the realisation that Russia has much to lose.

As yet another one of his key allies in the region faces an existential crisis, Vladimir Putin is presented with a major opportunity — and many challenges.