Russian political analyst Georgy Bovt has suggested that the conflict in the Middle East could become part of a broader diplomatic maneuver linked to the situation around Ukraine.

According to Bovt, a potential «two-step» scenario could emerge if Russian President Vladimir Putin were able to assist US President Donald Trump in bringing the military operation against Iran to an end. In that case, the political scientist believes, Washington might later exert stronger pressure on Kiev, which could in turn move the conflict in Ukraine closer to its conclusion.

Bovt argued on his Telegram channel that if Putin helped Trump end the war with Iran while allowing the American leader to preserve political face, Trump would likely feel indebted. In his view, such a situation could lead the US president to facilitate the end of the war in Ukraine, despite the common saying that a favor rendered often holds little lasting value.

A day earlier, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov reported that Putin and Trump had held a phone conversation on the evening of March 9. During the call, the two leaders discussed the situation in the Middle East, developments in Venezuela, and prospects for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine.

At the same time, the Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung pointed to the political risks Trump faces after launching the military operation against Iran. According to the publication, US involvement in the conflict could become a serious political test for the American president ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.