"What is happening today is a historic correction, the restoration of the balance that was lost to the world after the dissolution of the Soviet Union," dictator Bashar Assad claimed last week, shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in full support of the Kremlin.
This was not a surprising move on the part of the ruler who owed his survival in the Syrian civil war to Vladimir Putin.
However, the statement emphasized the rapprochement between Damascus and Moscow, precisely when other countries preferred to go between the drops.
Continues to approach Putin, President Assad, Photo: EPI
Assad is not the only one in the region who has backed Putin.
Only this morning (Tuesday) Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah attacked the United States and blamed it for the war in Europe.
"The consequences of what is happening today in Russia and Ukraine are dangerous for the world," Nasrallah said at a conference marking the 30th anniversary of the death of former terrorist organization leader Abbas Mousavi.
In addition, Nasrallah bothered to compare the response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine with the response to the US invasion of Iraq, in order to point to the hypocrisy of the world.
"Biden has stolen three and a half billion dollars from the Afghan people and the world is silent," the Hezbollah leader said.
"America is responsible for the events that are taking place in Ukraine. It has pushed things in that direction - and in the end those who are paying the price are the Ukrainian people and the Russian people. It is a lesson to anyone who trusts and gambles on America."
Supports diplomatic solution, Regent Muhammad bin Zayed, Photo: AFP
Compared to Putin's followers in Lebanon and Syria, most Arab countries continue to sit on the fence.
Russia has been involved in recent years in both Syrian and lobby space, and has become a regional player that everyone takes into account.
The UAE's heir to the throne, Muhammad bin Zayed, spoke by telephone with the Russian president yesterday.
According to the Kremlin, Ben-Zayed stressed that Russia has a right to maintain its national security.
However, a senior UAE official said the country was not taking sides in the conflict and supported a diplomatic solution.
Even in Egypt, where the war could affect bread prices in light of the involvement of major wheat exporters Ukraine and Russia, a diplomatic solution is being called for.
At the same time, the Egyptians plan to import flour from other countries.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi supports dialogue, Photo: IPI
In Cairo they also arranged for an emergency meeting of the Arab League Council.
The need for a solution through dialogue was also emphasized at the emergency meeting, and it was recommended that a group of ministers from Arab countries be formed to discuss the crisis and consult with the relevant parties.
Nonetheless, it seems that these are mostly declarative measures designed to please both the US and Russia.
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