Russian Propaganda Uses War in Iran to Derail Negotiations on Ukraine
Kremlin propagandists have launched an information campaign, using the U.S. military operation against Iran as a pretext to reject diplomatic settlement in Ukraine.
On Russian federal broadcasts, calls have been made for strikes on Ukrainian leadership and justifications for domestic repression as a “purifying fire” of war.
Dmitry Kiselyov, on the program Vesti Nedeli, openly questioned the advisability of dialogue with Washington and Kyiv. He urged Russians to “put themselves in Iran’s position,” implying that any guarantees from the West are attempts to deceive Moscow.
Even more aggressive was the rhetoric of Vladimir Solovyov, who effectively declared the death of global diplomacy. He suggested that any negotiations should only be seen as a strategic pause to prepare for further military action.
“Right now it is absolutely obvious to us that any negotiation process is nothing more than part of a military operation meant to calm the enemy. Diplomacy was destroyed as a tool on Saturday, so we can return to diplomacy only upon receiving ironclad guarantees,” Solovyov stated on the broadcast Voskresnogo Vechera.
The propagandist also expressed outrage that the U.S. and Israel struck Iran’s top leadership on the first day. In his view, this gives Russia the moral right to act similarly against “decision-making centers” in Ukraine, even though Moscow allegedly refrained from such measures previously.
Joining the chorus of aggressive voices was State Duma deputy Andrey Kartapolov, who used the outbreak of a major war in the Middle East to justify Russia’s isolation. He stated that modern weapons and the blocking of Telegram are necessary to protect against “traitors.”
“And this, exactly this. To ensure that we are protected. To ensure that traitors do not grow among us. And it is precisely the holy, purifying, liberating special military operation that is this very purifying fire,” Kartapolov cynically commented on Russians fleeing mobilization.
The situation is escalating amid Bloomberg reports about a possible Russian withdrawal from the negotiation process on March 4–5. Sources close to the Kremlin claim that U.S. President Donald Trump allegedly “lulls” Moscow with tales of cooperation while simultaneously destroying its allies.
Recall that Trump instructed his team to accelerate peace negotiations.
Also, Budanov intrigued observers with a statement regarding talks with the Russians.
