Putin's actual visit to Iran: He started crying at the airport, ended up waiting for Erdogan

“The Syrian crisis can only be resolved through political and diplomatic discussions... based strongly on basic principles in respect of sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity”.

This is the same Vladimir Putin, who five months ago occupied Ukraine -- without the need for talks to respect one country's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity.

The difference? Syria has a pro-rus leader, President Bashar al-Assad, who the Kremlin was determined to hold in power. Not so much through “political and diplomatic measures”, but sending there the Russian Army to help it regain lost territory.

Ukraine, however, has a pro-Western leadership that requires membership in the European Union and wants to make sure Ukraine never returns to Russia's orbit.

Russian invasion has sparked international condemnation and a tsunami of sanctions against Moscow. In the West, Russia is approaching the status Macau.

For the Kremlin, the summit in Tehran was an opportunity to testify that, despite attempts to isolate Russia, it preserves its geopolitical influence. There are not many countries in the world that President Putin can make public statements to support his special “ ” in Ukraine. Tehran is one of them.

In Ukraine's case, if you didn't take the initiative, then the other side would take and encourage the war”, the Russian president told Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamen.

So in Tehran, Russia proved its goal of getting help from its remaining friends? Washington wasn't impressed.

This visit shows on what scale Putin and Russia are isolated. Now, they have to go back to Iran for aid”, John Kirby from the White House said.

In addition, presidents Putin and Erdogan did not appear as close as expected. The Kremlin leader was seen waiting for a few seconds for his Turkish counterpart.

“Special Military operation” Moscow's has not gone as planned, but Vladimir Putin seems convinced that in Ukraine as well as in the West he will achieve some kind of victory./ BBC/Periscope/