The Art of Distraction: How Putin's Calculations May Backfire Vladimir Putin is banking on a calculated gamble: that Donald Trump's preoccupation with the war in Iran will create an opportunity for Russia to intensify its aggression in Ukraine.
US intelligence suggests that Putin believes the conflict has "weakened" Trump, and that this perceived vulnerability can be exploited to Moscow's advantage.
However, a closer examination of the situation reveals a more complex web of interests at play. The war in Iran has strained the US military's resources, particularly its stockpiles of key weaponry.