Dueling Tours for Influence as Ukraine War Scrambles Alliances

The diplomatic ripple results of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine performed out on Monday from the Middle East to the Baltics and northern Europe as leaders jockeyed to cement new alliances in a scrambled world.

On the fourth cease of a tour aimed toward securing extra weaponry to repel Russian forces, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine arrived in Athens for conferences with the leaders of Greece and different Balkan nations to debate frequent safety issues and higher integration with Europe.

“Thank you for your readiness to help us fight for our freedom,” Mr. Zelensky informed Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis after the 2 males met privately.

As Mr. Zelensky was making his technique to Athens after securing commitments of F-16 fighter jets from Denmark and the Netherlands, an Iranian navy delegation was visiting Russia, an indication of how deep ties between Moscow and Tehran have turn out to be because the battle started.

Iran’s prowess in drone and missile manufacturing and its hostile relations with the West have made it an interesting associate for Russia.

That was unmistakable on Monday when the top of Iran’s floor forces, Brig. Gen. Kioumars Heydari, was welcomed to Moscow by his Russian counterpart, Gen. Oleg Salyukov. The two males attended a wreath-laying ceremony on the tomb of the unknown soldier outdoors the Kremlin wall, in keeping with Russia’s Ministry of Defense.

“Iran is considered by the Russian Federation to be one of the key countries in the Middle East. It is a strategic partner of Russia,” General Salyukov mentioned in a press release launched by the ministry.

For his half, General Heydari mentioned that Tehran’s floor forces have been prepared to extend their cooperation with Russia, Iran’s state news company, IRNA, reported.

Isolated by a lot of the West because it invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow can be working to herald its ties with nations which have kept away from denouncing it or have no less than used extra measured language.

On Tuesday, the Kremlin will look to achieve floor when the group of countries referred to as BRICS — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — begins a gathering in South Africa. The group represents 40 p.c of the world’s inhabitants and 1 / 4 of its economic system.

The Russian president, Vladimir V. Putin, had deliberate to attend the gathering in individual, however that grew difficult after a global courtroom issued a warrant in March accusing him of battle crimes. Now he plans to participate remotely — however from Russia’s perspective, the summit should still present a possibility to courtroom the growing world.

The job of discovering frequent floor, nonetheless, is just changing into more durable. As Russia’s battle in Ukraine pushes on, the battle is destabilizing meals and power costs for most of the poorer international locations that BRICS members declare to symbolize.

In Athens on Monday, with Russian hostilities disrupting Ukrainian grain exports to hungry nations, Mr. Zelensky additionally requested Greece for assist transferring agricultural merchandise from Black Sea ports. Prime Minister Mitsotakis mentioned that Greek ships have been already carrying greater than 50 p.c of Ukrainian grain exports.

Before embarking on his newest diplomatic blitz on Saturday, starting in Sweden, Mr. Zelensky instructed that “powerful things” have been within the works for per week that features Ukraine’s Independence Day.

By the time he arrived in Greece, Mr. Zelensky had introduced commitments for dozens of F-16 jets, and he was anticipated to ask the identical from Athens. But late Monday, it was unclear what, if something, Ukraine and Greece had agreed to.

Mr. Zelensky mentioned he and the Greek prime minister had mentioned “certain priorities aimed at stopping this terrible invasion” and referred particularly to a proposal for Greece to practice Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets. “We need the support of Greece for the preparation of our pilots for the F-16s,” he mentioned in a joint televised look with Mr. Mitsotakis.

Mr. Zelensky, on his first official go to to Athens, additionally thanked Mr. Mitsotakis for Greece’s assist for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union and NATO.

Mr. Mitsotakis condemned Russian makes an attempt to “redraw borders” and mentioned that atrocities Russia dedicated in Ukraine ought to be punished. “We unreservedly condemn war crimes, which should be punished by international justice,” he mentioned.

Later within the day, Mr. Mitsotakis, Mr. Zelensky and 9 Balkan leaders met for a casual dinner that was additionally attended by E.U. officers. The group issued a press release declaring unwavering assist for Ukraine and arguing that an enlarged and united bloc was extra necessary than ever within the wake of Russia’s invasion.

“The escalating war of aggression against Ukraine revealed the urgent need for a strong, resilient and inclusive E.U. as a cornerstone of peace and prosperity among our peoples during these challenging times,” the declaration mentioned.

Reporting was contributed by Farnaz Fassihi, Cassandra Harvin, Enjoli Liston and Matthew Mpoke Bigg.