Putin's trip to Iran shows how isolated Russia has become in the wake of this unprovoked, war of aggression. Iran is one of very few places left in the world Putin can receive public statements of support for his "special military operation," having ostracized much of the globe with an unjustified invasion on European soil. No wonder Russia is fast approaching pariah status in the West.
Pres. Putin knows and has publicly commented that Russia cannot seek an isolationist foreign policy in today's interconnected world. As the West has refused to engage diplomatically with the Kremlin – instead imposing sanctions on Russia – the nation will continue to turn to partners outside the Western sphere of influence who value a more equitable distribution of power across the globe.