Russian President Vladimir Putin has said it is hard to predict the consequences of the conflict in the Middle East, but “could be comparable to those of the Covid pandemic.”

“The consequences of the conflict in the Middle East are still difficult to accurately predict,” Putin told business leaders in Moscow. 

He added that some estimates suggest they “could be compared with the coronavirus epidemic.”

He said the conflict is disrupting global supply chains and putting pressure on energy, metals and fertilizer sectors.