Vladimir Putin arrives in Iran on his first trip outside the former Soviet Union since the war began | World News
Vladimir Putin today visits Iran on his first trip outside the former Soviet Union since invading Ukraine.
The Russian president will meet Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as he seeks to forge some foreign alliances that his regime still enjoys.
Putin has described Western sanctions against Moscow as a declaration of economic war and is focusing international diplomatic efforts on China, India and Tehran.
His visit to the Iranian capital was his first outside the former Soviet Union since he arrived in China in February.
“The contact with Khamenei is very important,” said Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign policy adviser. “A dialogue of trust has developed between them on the most important issues on the bilateral and international agenda.
“In most cases, our positions are close to each other or identical.”
“We need a strong ally, and Moscow is a superpower,” an Iranian official told the Associated Press.
Meanwhile, on the ground in Ukraine:
• Six civilians died in Russian shelling of a two-story building in the town of Toretsk, eastern Russia
• Ukraine’s long-range missiles are being targeted at the direction of Kremlin Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu
• British intelligence reports that Russia is strengthening its frontline forces with a group of Wagner mercenaries
• Moscow claims to have shot down a Ukrainian MI-17 helicopter near the eastern town of Sloviansk
‘The new reality has begun’ – listen to Ukraine War Diaries
Joining on Tuesday was Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska, who is in Washington DC. She was rarely seen since the war startedand met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Mr. Blinken reiterated the US commitment to support Ukraine, and commended her for her work with civilians dealing with trauma. Ms. Zelenska will meet her US counterpart Jill Biden later today.
Her trip comes at a busy time for her husband, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is looking for new officials after fired the head of Ukraine’s security service and the prosecutor general about the declaration of treason.
Monday saw another 28 people fired from the security service in what Mr Zelenskyy described in his nightly speech as a “personnel check”.
“Different levels, different areas of focus,” he said of the layoffs. “But the reason is the same – the work results are unsatisfactory.”
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Putin negotiates grain blockade in Ukraine
The blockade of grain exports from Ukraine has been one of the most devastating effects of the war, and today will also see talks aimed at getting them back up and running.
While visiting Tehran, Putin will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is seen as a potential mediator on some of the global problems caused by the invasion.
“Discussions with Putin will focus on cereals, Syria and Ukraine,” a senior Turkish official told the Associated Press.
“Negotiations will try to resolve grain export issues.”
Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the UN are expected to sign an agreement later this week to resume grain shipments from Ukraine via the Black Sea.
