Live updates: How Russia’s assault on Ukraine affects Middle East
Russia's invasion of Ukraine is having an impact well beyond Europe. Follow along for the latest updates affecting the Mideast region.
Here’s what we’ve seen so far:
- Turkey has been testing its ties with Moscow by sending armed drones to Kyiv and invoking a 1936 treaty to limit Russian warships’ access to the Black Sea. But Ankara is also competing for the role of mediator, having hosted the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers in Antalya last week.
- The US has barred imports of Russian oil and natural gas after failing to convince Saudi Arabia to increase oil production to offset global price increases that benefit Moscow.
- Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have tread cautiously to avoid harming their ties with Moscow, while Israel has led with humanitarian aid and offered to mediate the conflict directly.
More from Al-Monitor: Follow our coverage here and check out this week's Middle East Minute video for a roundup of regional reactions to the conflict.
Live updates:
10:15 a.m., March 18: Little sign of Russia recruiting Syrians for Ukraine, US general says
