Russian President Vladimir Putin held phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday after Israel hit Iran in a series of strikes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned Israel's wave of strikes on Iran, the Kremlin said Friday, following separate phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Russia has broken its silence on Israel’s massive overnight airstrikes on Iran, calling it a “dramatic escalation” in the Middle East. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed President Vladimir Putin is receiving real-time updates as Israel’s Operation “Rising Lion” pounds Iranian nuclear and military sites.

We trace the evolution of Putin’s attitude towards Ukraine. As the Ukraine war grinds on with little sign of Russian president, Vladimir Putin agreeing to a ceasefire we trace the evolution of his attitude towards Ukraine.