Russian President Vladimir Putin says it is hard to predict the consequences of the conflict in the Middle East, but that some have compared the potential impact to that of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The conflict, Putin says, is causing significant damage to international logistics, production and supply chains while putting intense pressure on hydrocarbon, metals and fertilizer companies.
“The consequences of the conflict in the Middle East are still difficult to accurately predict,” Putin tells business leaders in Moscow.
“It seems to me that those who are involved in the conflict cannot predict anything themselves, but for us it is even more difficult.”
“However, there are already estimates that they can be compared with the coronavirus epidemic,” Putin says. “Let me remind you that it has dramatically slowed down the development of all regions and continents, without exception.”
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From the Liveblog of
Thursday, March 26, 2026
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