U.S. President Donald Trump disclosed that Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed to facilitate negotiations in the ongoing dispute between Israel and Iran, as reported by Fox News.
“Vladimir called me up. He said, ‘Can I help you with Iran?’ I said, ‘No, I don’t need help with Iran. I need help with you,’” Trump stated. “And I hope we’re going to be getting a deal done with Russia. It’s a shame—six thousand soldiers died last week.”
The president’s comments seem to point to persistent tensions in Eastern Europe, probably referencing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, a war largely blamed on Russian aggression.
Just a few days prior, Trump had voiced similar thoughts, asserting that any significant collaboration with Moscow must start with halting the war in Ukraine. Only then, he noted, could talks about Russia mediating Middle Eastern conflicts be entertained.
Experts from the Institute for the Study of War have observed that Putin’s proposal to mediate between Israel and Iran might be a tactical move to shift global focus away from the Ukraine conflict. The Kremlin, they contend, is keen to portray Moscow as a neutral mediator internationally, despite its contentious actions in Eastern Europe.
While Trump recognized the possibility of Putin serving as a mediator in the Middle East conflict, he emphasized that Russia’s own military activities remain a key issue.
Political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko told RBC-Ukraine that Putin is “caught in a bind,” as he grapples with balancing influence between Iran and the United States while trying to protect Russia from international condemnation.
Earlier today, Trump announced the establishment of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. However, hostilities quickly resumed after Israel reported new rocket attacks from Iran.
Before leaving for the Alliance summit, Trump offered a candid evaluation of the situation: “They don’t know what the f*** they’re doing,” he said, referring to both nations involved in the ceasefire breaches.
He continued, expressing that he was “unhappy” with both Israel and Iran—and later stressed he was “really unhappy” with Tel Aviv in particular.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
