While the world focuses on the escalating Iran war and tensions between Washington and Tehran, Russia appears to be quietly tightening its grip on eastern Ukraine. In a revealing exchange with Donetsk leader Denis Pushilin, Vladimir Putin suggested Kyiv’s control in the region has shrunk dramatically in recent months. Moscow now claims Ukraine holds just a small portion of the Donetsk territory as Russian forces continue pressing forward. The timing raises major geopolitical questions as global attention shifts to the Middle East crisis. Is the Kremlin using the Iran conflict as a strategic distraction to push for a decisive breakthrough in Ukraine?