As U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran enter their second week, the Kremlin faces a complex calculus of costs and benefits. On one hand, the conflict has triggered a surge in global oil prices and effectively diverted critical Western weapon systems away from the Ukrainian front, offering Vladimir Putin clear advantages. Conversely, the war threatens to further isolate Russia by driving the Gulf states firmly into the U.S. camp. While Russian state media intensifies its rhetoric regarding American treachery and "regime adjustment," the ongoing conflict exposes the limits of the Kremlin's regional influence.

In this episode, Andy Kuchins and Chris Monday unpack how Vladimir Putin and Russian elites understand the world, and how they seek to influence it.

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