Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is trying to shift international attention away from Russia’s war against Ukraine by offering the United States help in the Middle East settlement.
That’s according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank, Ukrinform reports.
Putin continues to portray Russia as an effective and necessary international partner for the United States amid tensions between Iran and Israel, the latest review says.
Analysts recalled that US President Donald Trump stated on June 14 that he and Putin spoke by phone for about an hour about the ongoing Israel-Iran strikes and spent “much less” time talking about Ukraine than Iran.
It is noted that Kremlin aide Yuriy Ushakov stated on June 14 that Putin and Trump mainly spoke about military escalation in the Middle East. Ushakov claimed that Putin expressed concern over the escalation of tensions between Iran and Israel and offered Russia’s assistance in negotiating a peace settlement.
Trump said that during the conversation he reminded Putin that the war against Ukraine must end, the ISW added.
“Putin is likely attempting to distract from his ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine by offering to help the United States mediate the situation in the Middle East,” ISW experts believe.
As Ukrinform reported earlier, President Donald Trump said the United States could intervene in the conflict between Israel and Iran.
Referring to his phone call with Putin on Saturday, Trump added that he would be “open” to his Russian counterpart mediating in the conflict.
Source: Putin trying to divert attention from war against Ukraine - ISW
