After being diplomatically isolated at the United Nations over its invasion of Ukraine, Russia appears smug as the United States suffers a similar fate for its support of Israel and its aggression against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Reuters reports.

“Russian diplomats see the war in the Middle East as a huge opportunity to reset their position at the UN They have made strenuous efforts to highlight U.S double standards over the war,” said Richard Gowan, UN director at the International Crisis Group. “They know that Ukraine and its allies won’t dare float any resolutions targeting Moscow … for a while.”

The world body adopted six resolutions on the conflict in the first year denouncing Moscow and demanding it withdraw all its troops and condemning Russia’s “attempted illegal annexation” of four regions in Ukraine.

But some diplomats have now signalled that US credibility in rallying support at the United Nations for issues like Ukraine may have been compromised over its shielding of Israel.

Read the full story here.