‘Israel Almost A Russian-Speaking Country’: Why Putin May Not Join US-Iran War- Video

As tensions rise in the Middle East, Russian President Vladimir Putin has explained why Moscow may avoid getting directly involved in the growing conflict between Israel, Iran, and now the United States.

Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Putin pointed to Israel’s large Russian-speaking population as a key reason behind Russia’s cautious stance. “Almost two million people from the former Soviet Union and the Russian Federation live in Israel. It is almost a Russian-speaking country today,” he said. “And of course, we always take this into account in Russia’s modern history,” he added, according to TASS.

Putin also responded to critics who questioned Russia’s loyalty to its allies. He called such voices “provocateurs,” and emphasized that Russia has long-standing friendly ties with both the Arab world and Islamic countries. Notably, about 15% of Russia’s population is Muslim, and Russia also holds observer status in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

These comments come after the United States carried out airstrikes on three major nuclear sites in Iran — Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan — and publicly declared its partnership with Israel in the operation. Despite being an ally of Iran, Russia has shown reluctance to escalate its involvement.

Previously, Putin had offered to help mediate peace between Israel and Iran, but US President Donald Trump rejected the idea. “I said, ‘Do me a favor, mediate your own. Let’s mediate Russia first. You can worry about this later,’” Trump told reporters, downplaying Putin’s proposal.

Putin’s careful words highlight Russia’s complex position maintaining relations with Iran, supporting the Arab world, but also considering cultural and population ties with Israel. As the conflict deepens, Moscow’s balancing act remains in global focus.