Putin: ‘Israel’s almost a Russian-speaking country’

Russian leader cites population ties, urges nuanced diplomacy as US joins Israeli strikes on Iran.

By David Brummer, World Israel News

Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized Israel’s large Russian-speaking population as a surprisingly key consideration in Moscow’s approach to the escalating Israel-Iran conflict, according to the Ynet news site.

Speaking on Friday at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin pointed to the cultural and demographic links between Russia and Israel while also defending his country’s balanced relationships with both the Islamic world and the Jewish state.

“I want to draw your attention to the fact that almost two million people from the former Soviet Union and the Russian Federation reside in Israel,” Putin said, according to Russian state media.

“It is almost a Russian-speaking country today. And, undoubtedly, we always take this into account in Russia’s contemporary history.”

His comments came just a day before the US launched coordinated strikes alongside Israel against three nuclear-related facilities in Iran, signaling a sharp escalation in regional tensions.

Tehran has vowed to retaliate – firing a barrage of some 30 ballistic missiles at Israel early on Sunday morning – and warning it may target American bases in the region.

Meanwhile, Putin used the platform to push back against critics questioning Russia’s loyalty to its allies, calling them “provocateurs.”

He insisted that Russia has “traditionally enjoyed good and friendly relations with the Arab world” and underscored that 15 percent of the Russian population is Muslim.

Russia also holds observer status in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, he added.

Despite these ties, Moscow has notably refrained from offering direct assistance to Iran in its military confrontation with Israel.

Earlier in the conflict, Putin reportedly offered to mediate a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, a proposal that US President Donald Trump quickly dismissed.

As the conflict threatens to widen, Putin’s remarks suggest that Moscow is trying to walk a tightrope, preserving its strategic interests in the Middle East without alienating either side.

His emphasis on shared culture, religious ties, and diplomatic flexibility reflects an effort to present Russia as a potential stabilizing force, even as its actual influence in the current crisis appears limited.