This is in the

CVS I and the world. I'm John Batcher visiting with Anatole

Leaven of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. He's traveling. He's in Asia. However, the events of Eurasia

interest everyone all the time because it affects families down to commerce level.

And we're looking right now. families down to commerce level.

And we're looking right now at Europe one more time asking,

when is this war going to end?

But which war are they talking about?

Because we have threats for these last days of an imminent

attack by Iran directly to Israel similar threats from Beirut and I'm told

I'm told and this is not conviction but it's an opinion that Russia has

spent a lot of diplomatic talk in Tehran led by Mr. Shoygu who was there some days ago to this discourage Iran from attacking Israel. To discourage the Hezbollah from attacking Israel. Russia's

thinking of its commitment to Syria, it's thinking of its relationship with Egypt. I can imagine all that, but how deeply involved is Russia

in settling the matter of the war with Iran, because it has it has

strains clearly diplomatic strengths in Eurasia that cannot be matched by

anybody in Europe.

Yes I mean Russia certainly is an important player, but does not obviously remotely match the United States in terms of power in the region and links to Israel. I think what Russian

diplomacy towards Iran does demonstrate is that you know that there has been from some

Western commentators this in my view rather silly line that you know Putin is purely a spoiler. His only intention is to cause trouble

and chaos, you know, and problems for the West everywhere in the world.

That's not true at all.

I mean, he is pursuing what he takes to be Russian interests.

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