Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the UK Andrei Kelin throughout an interview with PA on the official residence of the Russian Ambassador in London. Image date: Monday February 21, 2022.
Aaron Chown – Pa Pictures | Pa Pictures | Getty Pictures
The U.S.-Israeli struggle on Iran is a “misadventure” whose objectives and exit technique stay unclear, Russia’s ambassador to the U.Ok. advised CNBC.
Andrey Kelin stated Russia has “a number of sympathy” with Tehran and stated “one of the best finish” to the escalating Center East struggle is for it to “present solely that they’re mindless.”
“We nonetheless are attempting to grasp, what are the objectives of President Trump on this marketing campaign. You already know that a number of doubts have been expressed in regards to the exit technique that the American administration can have on this endeavour,” Kelin advised CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick in an interview recorded on Thursday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin despatched a message to Iran’s new supreme chief, Mojtaba Khamenei, earlier this week, providing his “unwavering help” to Tehran and saying the nation “has been and can stay the Islamic Republic’s dependable associate.”
The struggle has been raging for 2 weeks, with heavy strikes reported throughout Iran’s capital metropolis and transport site visitors by means of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz severely disrupted.
The White Home has stated the aims of Operation Epic Fury have been to destroy Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal and manufacturing capability and its navy, sever its help for proxies in different international locations and guarantee Iran can by no means purchase a nuclear weapon.
The White Home stated on Thursday these aims “have remained unchanged unambiguous, and constant” for the reason that operation started on Feb. 28.
“Now we have a number of sympathy with Iran. Now we have a number of sympathy as nicely with the Persian Gulf states, there isn’t any doubt in any respect. As for the start, I can not perceive the place of when everyone is blaming Iran,” Kelin stated.
“[The] disaster has began with the, as I’ve stated, with Israel and U.S. aggression towards Iran and it was in the course of talks, after all,” he continued, referring to negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program held within the Swiss metropolis of Geneva final month.
On this pool {photograph} distributed by the Russian state company Sputnik, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin attends a gathering with Iranian President in Ashgabat on December 12, 2025.
Alexander Kazakov | Afp | Getty Pictures
“My president mentioned this challenge with the president of america, and we are able to make a superb contribution by the way in which to complete it, to wrap it up.”
CNBC has contacted a spokesperson on the White Home and Israel’s Overseas Ministry and is awaiting a response.
‘A strategic partnership’
Alongside China, which has acquired tens of millions of barrels of oil by means of the Strait of Hormuz whilst struggle chokes the waterway, Russia stands as one among Iran’s most influential diplomatic companions.
“Now we have a strategic partnership with Iran. We aren’t allied in army phrases, however we now have a strategic partnership, and we now have received a number of communication in numerous fields,” Kelin advised CNBC.
Requested to make clear whether or not Moscow has any army hyperlinks with Iran, Kelin replied: “I don’t touch upon that aspect.”
Funerals are held for members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and different army figures at Enghelab Sq. on March 11, 2026 in Tehran, Iran.
Majid Saeedi | Getty Pictures Information | Getty Pictures
U.Ok. Protection Secretary John Healy advised reporters on Thursday that Putin’s “hidden hand” seems to be behind Iran’s army playbook in addition to doubtlessly a few of Tehran’s army capabilities.
Iran has reportedly fired off greater than 2,000 Shahed drones throughout the Center East for the reason that struggle started. These drones, which have been first designed in Iran, have been used extensively throughout Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Diplomatic answer on Ukraine is ‘badly wanted’
On Ukraine, Russia’s Kelin stated Kyiv is “steadily” and “undoubtedly” shifting towards defeat after greater than 4 years of struggle, regardless of little motion by Russian forces and mounting casualties.
When challenged on Russian forces’ lack of motion, Kelin replied: “Throughout winter time, after all, there was a sure pause. For the time being, we now have a spring drawback with the roads as a result of they’re in dangerous circumstances however, consider me, what’s on the desk proper now could be about 10% of Donbas territory, which isn’t but below our management.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated earlier this week that the Kremlin’s personal assessments estimate that greater than 1.3 million Russian troopers have been killed and wounded on the battlefield since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. CNBC couldn’t independently confirm this report.
A report from the Heart for Strategic and Worldwide Research revealed in January stated Russian battlefield casualties are considerably higher than Ukrainian fatalities, with Ukrainian forces doubtless struggling someplace between 500,000 and 600,000 casualties.
Kelin stated he was certain that each Moscow and Kyiv would ultimately conform to a diplomatic decision to the struggle.
“I can not say when it will occur, however a diplomatic answer is badly wanted,” Kelin stated.
Kelin stated The U.S. was “taking part in a constructive function on this diplomatic effort,” however added: “Since Ukraine isn’t ready for the time being and since Europe nonetheless want to again up Ukraine as a lot as potential, to produce it with weapons, with cash … making no efforts to solicit or to assist this diplomatic answer, it will final for a while.”
U.S-brokered talks on the Ukraine struggle have been placed on maintain as a result of Iran battle, with U.S. Particular Envoy Steve Witkoff telling CNBC on Tuesday that the discussions would now doubtless happen subsequent week. Ukraine’s Zelenskyy had urged the U.S. to not take away sanctions on Russia forward of these talks, though the White Home has since moved to quickly elevate sanctions on Russian crude at sea.
A Shahed-136 drone is displayed at a rally in western Tehran, Iran, on February 11, 2026.
Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Pictures
The European Union’s overseas coverage chief, Kaja Kallas, just lately stated there seems to be “no finish in sight” to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Talking at a information convention on Monday, she stated it’s clear Russia’s military was “slowed down” and its financial system is in steep decline.
“Russia’s maximalist calls for can’t be met with a minimalist response,” Kallas stated. “It is simply widespread sense, if Ukraine’s army is to be restricted in measurement, Russia’s needs to be too.”
