Russian forces begin offensive in Ukraine as Zelensky worries about impact of Iran conflict | CNN

Russian forces have begun a spring offensive in eastern Ukraine, including the use of dozens of tanks and armored vehicles, according to the Ukrainian military and analysts. The assault is gathering pace as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he has a “very bad feeling” about the consequences of the Middle East conflict for his country. “You see that our diplomatic meetings, trilateral meetings, are constantly postponed. There is one reason: war in Iran,” he told the BBC in an interview Sunday. “Putin will want a long war. For Putin, a long war in Iran is a plus,” he said – as rising oil prices and the suspension of US sanctions on some Russian crude benefit the Russian economy. Against that background, Russia is stepping up assaults in eastern Ukraine. “With changing weather conditions, the Russian aggressor has stepped up pressure across several sections of the front,” Ukrainian military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said Friday. “For several days running, the number of combat engagements has exceeded 200,” he added – claiming that the Russians were losing more than 1,000 soldiers a day. “Active troop movements, reinforced artillery, tactical aviation