High five: Putin and Trump called on the birthday of the head of the United States
Vladimir Putin informed Donald Trump about Russia's readiness to mediate between Israel and Iran. This was stated by Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, commenting on the telephone conversation between the two leaders, which took place on June 14. According to him, Washington claims that American negotiators are ready to resume work with Iranian representatives on the nuclear program. The 6th round of negotiations between Iran and the United States was supposed to take place on June 15, but Tehran refused to participate in it after the attacks of the Jewish state. Russia and the United States are capable of influencing the de-escalation of the conflict between Israel and Iran, according to the expert community.
Resolution of the Iran-Israel conflict
Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump on June 14. This call was the third this month and the fifth after the American leader's return to the White House. The last time the heads of state spoke was just 10 days ago, on June 4. And the first conversation took place on February 12. Then he became the first contact between the leaders of Russia and the United States in three years.
During the conversation, Vladimir Putin congratulated his colleague on his birthday (Trump turned 79 on June 14), as well as on American Flag Day and the 250th anniversary of the Ground forces.
"As in the previous conversation, both presidents noted the brotherhood in arms during the Second World War," said Russian Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, noting that the presidents expressed satisfaction with "positive personal relations."
Of course, the 50-minute conversation was largely devoted to the current international agenda. The central theme was the aggravation of the situation in the Middle East. Vladimir Putin informed Donald Trump about his previous telephone contacts with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Peseshkian. The Russian leader, condemning Israel's military operation against Iran, expressed serious concern about a possible escalation of the conflict, which would have unpredictable consequences for the entire situation in the Middle East region, Yuri Ushakov said.
The Russian President reiterated the importance of preventing the escalation of the conflict and confirmed Moscow's readiness to carry out possible mediation efforts between Iran and Israel, the presidential aide said. At the same time, Russia's principled approach and interest in resolving the crisis remain unchanged, he stressed.
Donald Trump, for his part, also assessed the situation as very alarming, admitting, however, the effectiveness of Israeli strikes on targets in Iran, said Yuri Ushakov.
Vladimir Putin recalled that Russia had proposed concrete steps to find mutually acceptable agreements between Washington and Tehran on the issue of Iran's nuclear program. Israel, however, launched attacks on Iran ahead of the June 15 round of talks in Oman. The Iranian Foreign Ministry has already stated that the talks scheduled for that day will not take place. At the same time, the presidents of the Russian Federation and the United States, despite the complicated situation, do not rule out a return to the negotiating track, the presidential aide added. According to Yuri Ushakov, Donald Trump noted that the team of American negotiators is ready to resume work with Iranian representatives.
On the night of June 14, Tehran carried out four large-scale missile attacks in response to Israeli military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry called it special cynicism that the Israeli attacks were carried out during a session of the IAEA Board of Governors and on the eve of another round of indirect contacts between representatives of Iran and the United States.
"Thus, the multilateral efforts initiated with considerable difficulty aimed at reducing confrontation and finding solutions that eliminate any suspicions and prejudices regarding the Iranian peaceful atom have been undermined and set back," the ministry said in a statement.
How can events unfold in the Middle East
The United States can influence Israel to follow the path of de-escalation of the conflict with Iran, but the current head of the White House has limited opportunities, said Sergey Demidenko, associate professor at the Institute of Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences, an expert in Oriental studies.
— There is a US policy, and there is a Trump policy. For example, Biden had more room for maneuver with regard to Israel, unlike Trump, who trapped himself with his election ideological slogans. In fact, he cannot influence Israel, because his entire line, which was announced during his first term, was aimed at supporting Israel. In this regard, questions will arise if he suddenly starts to review his policy," he told Izvestia.
Russia could come to an agreement with Iran. Relations between Moscow and Tehran have strengthened significantly recently. Earlier this year, the countries signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, and in May, a free trade agreement between the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Iran entered into force. At the same time, Tehran's foreign policy actions are largely dictated by internal economic problems. For example, at the end of May, truck drivers in Iran protested massively because of the government's plans to increase gasoline prices tenfold and low salaries.
— On the one hand, we have the opportunity to influence Iran. On the other hand, they are limited both in our country and in the United States," Sergei Demidenko said.
At the same time, the analyst believes that Iran is likely to return to negotiations with the United States to resolve the contradictions surrounding its nuclear program.
— Russia participates in the development of future agreements between Iran and the United States, and the Americans naturally count on the Russian Federation in this matter. But the factor of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is playing here, who has gone off the chain and is acting for the sake of his aspirations to save his ruling coalition," the analyst explained. — I'm pretty sure that the 6th round of negotiations will take place sooner or later, because Iran simply has nowhere to go.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Bogdan Bezpalko, a member of the Council on Interethnic Relations under the President of the Russian Federation, believes that the issue of resolving the crisis between Iran and Israel can partially distract world leaders from the Ukrainian problem.
"For those who would like to switch, the current situation is a good reason to do so, including for Trump," he told Izvestia.
On June 14, the Iranian media reported on the intensive work of air defense in at least seven provinces of the Islamic Republic. Also, eyewitnesses reported that Israel was attacking the port of Bandar Abbas. Iranian state TV reported that Tehran plans to launch "devastating strikes" against Israel soon in response to its attack.
Interestingly, US Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth announced Washington's withdrawal of air defense systems from Ukraine to strengthen the protection of its bases in the Middle East. "We are using all available means to protect our people in the region and around the world, because today the landscape of defense is different," he said.
Moscow's readiness for further negotiations with Kiev
The Ukrainian issue became the second topic of the talks between the two presidents. The Russian president informed Donald Trump about the implementation of the agreements reached at the meeting of the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul on June 2. In addition to the fact that the Russian Federation and Ukraine exchanged memoranda in which the parties reflected their vision of aspects of the conflict settlement, an agreement was reached on prisoner exchanges.
Vladimir Putin reminded the American leader that prisoners of war are being exchanged these days, including the seriously wounded and those under the age of 25. Ukraine has also received two shipments of bodies of the dead.
— The Russian side expressed its readiness to continue negotiations with the Ukrainians, as agreed, after June 22. Donald Trump took note of this information and reiterated his interest in ending the Russian-Ukrainian conflict as soon as possible," said Yuri Ushakov.
Following the Istanbul talks, the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, said that the third round of negotiations could take place at the end of June. However, Moscow questioned Kiev's willingness to engage in dialogue amid regular drone attacks and terrorist attacks in border regions.
The first round took place on May 16, it ended with agreements on the exchange of prisoners according to the "1,000 to 1,000" formula and a decision on the submission by the parties of memoranda on aspects of overcoming the crisis.
Donald Trump said on his Truth Social network that he had discussed Iran in detail with Vladimir Putin, but he plans to focus on Ukraine later.
Russia and the United States will continue the dialogue on the Ukrainian settlement, Bohdan Bezpalko believes. According to him, the Ukrainian issue remains one of the priorities for Donald Trump.
— The Ukrainian issue remains one of the main ones for Trump, not because he loves Ukraine so much, but because his opponents will use it to discredit him. He may be accused of "betraying" the interests of Ukraine," he said.
The United States is interested in ensuring that the solution to the Ukrainian crisis falls on the shoulders of Europe. However, the Europeans are seeking guarantees for the participation of the United States in the settlement of the conflict. For example, the United Kingdom will not send troops to Ukraine after the conflict is resolved without guarantees of the support of its contingent from the United States, said the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer.
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