The two wars are now so closely connected that some analysts
say they are beginning to merge, and that one is increasingly affecting the
course of the other.
From Ukraine’s perspective, that link is not new. Russia
began using Iranian-made Shahed drones in September 2022. What is new, the
article said, is Moscow’s support for Tehran: Russia is now sending Iran
intelligence, targeting systems and drones.
Another cross-regional link between the conflicts emerged
during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s trip to the Middle East, where security
cooperation agreements were signed.
The wars are also colliding on global energy markets, The
Guardian said. The closure of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz sent oil
and gas prices sharply higher, benefiting Moscow and throwing a lifeline to the
Russian economy as pressure on it mounted. The article also noted that
President Donald Trump’s administration had eased some restrictions on Russian
oil exports.
The conflicts have become so interconnected that events on
one battlefield now clearly affect the other, the newspaper said, underscoring
concern in Europe over being drawn into an expanding war in the Middle East.
At the same time, the Trump administration has been
reluctant to acknowledge that link, continuing to favor Moscow despite
increasingly strong evidence of Russian support for Iran.
“However, the deepening of Russian involvement in Iran’s
defense will place new pressure on Trump’s pro-Russian instincts,” The Guardian
wrote.
For the Kremlin, the article said, support for Tehran offers
a way to restore its geopolitical position after a series of setbacks.
Interconnected regional conflicts are still far from turning
into a world war, William Spaniel, an associate professor of political science
at the University of Pittsburgh, said in comments to the newspaper. But they
are tying the outcomes of military operations more closely together and will
have long-term consequences for how battle lines are drawn, he said.
On March 26, Zelenskyy arrived in Saudi Arabia. He later
announced the signing of a defense cooperation agreement between the two
countries’ defense ministries.
On March 28, the Ukrainian leader visited the United Arab
Emirates and Qatar, where he met with their leaders. Zelenskyy said Ukraine had
signed a 10-year strategic cooperation agreement with Qatar and would later
conclude a similar agreement with the Emirates.
On March 29, Zelenskyy discussed security issues with
Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
On March 30, he said Ukraine had reached agreements during
talks with Gulf leaders on mutual assistance in defense and energy. The 10-year
agreements include, among other things, the supply of naval drones.