Vladimir Putin is visiting Iran today for his first trip outside the former Soviet Union since the invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian president will meet Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as he seeks to strengthen the few foreign alliances his regime still enjoys.
Mr Putin has described Western sanctions against Moscow as a declaration of economic war and has focused his efforts at international diplomacy on China, India and Tehran.
His visit to the Iranian capital is his first trip outside the old USSR since he traveled to China in February.
“Contact with Khamenei is very important,” said Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign policy adviser. “A trustful dialogue developed between them on the most important issues of the bilateral and international agenda.
“On most issues, our positions are close or identical.
An Iranian official told The Associated Press: “We need a strong ally, and Moscow is a superpower.”
Meanwhile on the ground in Ukraine:
• Six civilians killed in Russian shelling of two-story building in eastern city of Toretsk• Ukrainian long-range missiles targeted on directive of Kremlin Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu• British intelligence says Russia is beefing up front-line forces with Wagner mercenary group• Moscow claims it shot down a Ukrainian MI-17 helicopter near the eastern city of Slavyansk
“The new reality has begun” – listen to the Ukrainian military diaries
The first lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, who is in Washington, is also traveling on Tuesday. She has rarely been seen since the start of the war and has already met with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
Mr. Blinken reiterated America’s commitment to support Ukraine and praised it for its work with civilians dealing with trauma. Ms Zelenska is due to meet her US counterpart Jill Biden later today.
Her trip comes at a busy time for her husband, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, who is looking for new officials after firing the head of Ukraine’s security service and the prosecutor general on treason charges.
On Monday, a further 28 people were dismissed from the security service in what Mr Zelensky described in his overnight address as a “personnel audit”.
“Different levels, different areas of focus,” he said of the layoffs. “But the reasons are similar – unsatisfactory work results.
Read more: Family returns to bombed home – and finds pet cat alive. Video shows the “last minutes” of a young girl killed in a Russian strike
Image: Jill Biden meets Olena Zelenska in Ukraine in May – now they will meet in Washington
Putin will negotiate the grain blockade of Ukraine
The blockade of Ukraine’s grain exports is one of the most devastating side effects of the war, and today we will also see talks aimed at re-launching them.
During his visit to Tehran, Mr. Putin will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is seen as a potential mediator on some global issues raised by the invasion.
“Discussions with Putin will focus on grain, Syria and Ukraine,” a senior Turkish official told The Associated Press.
“The talks will try to solve the grain export problems.
Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations are expected to sign an agreement later this week aimed at resuming grain shipments from Ukraine via the Black Sea.
Russian independent TV channel back on air
Elsewhere, an independent Russian TV channel is back on the air four months after it was forced to shut down over its content related to the war in Ukraine.
TV Rain is now broadcasting from the Latvian capital Riga via YouTube, which will likely be the only way most people in Russia will be able to see it.
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