 "US President Donald Trump with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Reuters File")
US President Donald Trump has made a U-turn on his stance over Russian President Vladimir Putin playing a mediating role in Iran-Israel conflict, saying that involvement from the Kremlin can only be accepted after Russia ends its war in Ukraine.
Trump, who had previously expressed openness to Putin serving as a mediator in the West Asia crisis, changed course on Wednesday, emphasising that Moscow’s role in Ukraine disqualifies it from brokering peace elsewhere.
“He actually offered to help mediate. I said, ‘Do me a favor, mediate your own. Let’s mediate Russia first, okay?’” Politico quoted Trump as telling reporters at the White House.
“I said, ‘Vladimir, let’s mediate Russia first, you can worry about this later,’” he added.
Russia maintains a close alliance with Iran, a relationship strengthened by Tehran’s supply of military drones used by Moscow in its war against Ukraine. In return, Iran has received Russian assistance with its civilian nuclear programme.
At the same time, the Kremlin has preserved warm relations with Israel. Before 2022, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made frequent visits to Moscow, a dynamic that once positioned President Putin as a potential power broker in West Asia.
“I do not believe that Russia, which is now engaged in a high-intensity conflict and has decided not to respect the UN Charter for several years now, can be a mediator,” Politico quoted French President Emmanuel Macron as saying Sunday.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsPresident Trump is reportedly seriously considering supporting a US military role in Israel’s ongoing assault on Iran. The development comes as PM Netanyahu vowed to intensify strikes on Iran following a missile attack that hit an Israeli hospital Thursday morning.
With inputs from agencies