The War in Iran, a Benefit to Putin
From Brussels Sprouts by Center for a New American Security | CNAS
March 31, 2026 · 52 min · Episode 76
About this episode
The episode discusses the implications of the war in Iran on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and how it benefits Russia.
While the world's attention has turned to the war with Iran, the war in Ukraine continues. Russia has seemingly kicked off its spring offensive, but a meaningful breakthrough remains unlikely. Moscow has increased the tempo of its operations, relying more heavily on mechanized and motorized assaults, an approach that is typical for this time of year. Yet last year's experience suggests limited prospects for success. Despite a similar surge last year, Russian forces achieved only marginal gains while incurring significant equipment losses, ultimately forcing Russian forces to relatively quickly return to smaller scale infiltration tactics.Meanwhile, the war in Iran will affect dynamics in Ukraine. The most pressing concern for Ukraine is its air and missile defense. Russia is expanding production of ballistic missiles and improving their effectiveness. Kyiv remains heavily dependent on U.S.-provided systems to intercept these threats, with no real viable alternative currently available. The United States is rapidly expending these resources in the Middle East. And the longer that conflict continues, the more it is likely to exacerbate Ukraine's vulnerability. Financially, Russia…
Topics covered
- Iran conflict
- Ukraine war
- Russian military strategy
- U.S. defense support
- energy prices
- geopolitical dynamics
Keywords
- Iran
- Ukraine
- Russia
- military strategy
- energy prices
- U.S. defense
- ballistic missiles
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Center for a New American Security
Products: ballistic missiles
Places: Iran, Ukraine, Russia, United States
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