Russia Always Abandons Its Allies. Iran is just the latest.
Now, only six months after losing Syria, Russian leadership stands by as Iranian cities burn and its top generals are killed daily in Israeli airstrikes. The silence from Moscow is deafening. No arms shipments, no air defense support, not even a credible threat to intervene. Russia, Iran’s so-called top ally, has vanished at Iran’s moment of greatest need. But this isn’t a surprising failure — it’s a pattern.
A quick review of Russian history clearly indicates that Russia does not defend its allies. It uses them, then walks away.
This is not a diplomatic oversight; it’s a long held doctrine. Russia’s strategy is simple: exploit, abandon, then return later to profit from the aftermath. Ask the Ukrainians, the Armenians, the Kyrgyz, the Syrians. Wherever Moscow builds influence, betrayal follows.
Ukraine
After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine inherited the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal. In 1994, Ukraine gave it up in exchange for security assurances—including from Russia. Two decades later, that same “guarantor” of peace invaded Crimea and launched a full-scale war.
Russia didn’t just violate a treaty; it stabbed a partner in the back.
Syria
Syria followed the same script. Moscow backed Assad, called him an ally, and swore to protect him. But as the regime began to collapse, Russia discreetly withdrew—pivoting quickly to negotiate with Assad’s eventual replacements. The goal? Preserve access to Russian naval bases.
This is how Russia operates. Its promises are temporary. Its alliances are transactional.
Kyrgyzstan
In 2010, during mass ethnic violence in Kyrgyzstan, the Kremlin was formally invited to intervene under the CSTO mutual defense pact. Moscow refused.
A similar scenario unfolded in 2022 during deadly clashes between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Armenia
The same happened in 2023, when Armenia appealed to Russia for help as Azerbaijani forces stormed into Nagorno-Karabakh.
Moscow ignored every plea.
Iran
Now, Iran joins the list. Despite providing Moscow with Shahed drones, engineers, fuel, electronics, and even hosting a drone factory, Iran is being bombed while Russia watches.
Israeli strikes destroyed the very facilities that supplied Moscow with critical drone components—and the Kremlin did nothing. No fighters scrambled. No defense systems activated. Just a press release.
Worse, Russia now offers to “mediate” in the Israel-Iran conflict. A day after Israel’s strikes, Putin called Donald Trump for 50 minutes to discuss Iran, Ukraine, and nuclear talks. This wasn’t diplomacy—it was positioning.
Moscow sees an opportunity to leverage Iran’s collapse for concessions on Ukraine or sanctions relief. It hopes to trade away its “friend” in exchange for breathing room.
Iran has already paid its price in loyalty. Now, Russia will happily sell it out for a better deal. And if Trump—or any Western leader—thinks Putin is acting in good faith, they’re being played.
Russia’s peace offers are traps. Its guarantees are worthless.
The pattern is consistent: use the ally, abandon them at the critical moment, then step back in as the supposed peacemaker. That is the essence of Kremlin foreign policy. The West must not let itself be fooled—especially now, when Ukraine’s fate may hinge on what Putin trades next.
