Putin says Russia could broker Israel-Iran deal even as it ramps up attacks on Ukraine

Published connected 19/06/2025 - 12:46 GMT+2•Updated 12:48

Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered to thief mediate an extremity to nan conflict betwixt Israel and Iran, moreover arsenic Moscow steps up its warfare against Ukraine.

Speaking to world news agency editors successful St Petersburg connected Wednesday, Putin suggested that Moscow could thief discuss a colony allowing Tehran to prosecute a serene atomic programme while assuaging Israeli information concerns.

Putin said it was a "delicate issue" but believed that "a solution could beryllium found".

The Russian leader said he had shared Moscow's connection pinch Iran, Israel and nan US.

"We are not imposing thing connected anyone; we are simply talking astir really we spot a imaginable measurement retired of nan situation. But nan decision, of course, is up to nan governmental activity of each these countries, chiefly Iran and Israel," he said.

Israel deed a captious Iranian atomic tract and Iranian missiles struck an Israeli infirmary connected Thursday, nan seventh time of a conflict that started pinch a astonishment activity of Israeli airstrikes targeting subject sites, elder officers and atomic scientists successful Iran.

The Israeli aerial run against its rival has killed respective Iranian subject commanders and hundreds of civilians, while Iran's strikes successful consequence person killed astatine slightest 2 twelve civilians successful Israel.

Asked really Russia would respond if Israel were to termination Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Putin refused to answer, saying he did not "want to talk specified a possibility".

Khamenei has rejected US calls for surrender successful nan look of Israeli strikes and warned that immoderate subject engagement by Washington would origin "irreparable damage".

US President Donald Trump said earlier this week that nan US knew wherever Khamenei was "hiding" but that "we are not going to return him retired ... astatine slightest not for now".

Strikes connected civilians successful Ukraine

Russia has maintained a balancing enactment successful nan Middle East for decades, staying connected bully position pinch Israel moreover arsenic it developed beardown economical and subject ties pinch Iran, a argumentation that could let Moscow to play powerfulness agent successful nan region.

Yet nan Kremlin signed a strategical business statement pinch Tehran successful January, while its narration pinch Israel has been tested by nan wars successful Gaza and Ukraine.

After nan Israel-Iran conflict collapsed retired past Friday, Russia has urged Israel to show restraint successful its run against Iran and condemned its attacks against its rival arsenic "violations of nan UN charter and world law" — nan aforesaid contraventions nan world organization has many times said Moscow has been committing successful Ukraine.

Asked connected Wednesday astatine nan St Petersburg gathering astir Russia denouncing Israel’s strikes connected Iran while Ukrainian civilians are being killed successful attacks by Moscow, Putin responded that Russia was targeting nan country's arms factories.

However, wide harm to residential buildings and different civilian targets successful Ukraine has been documented during nan conflict, including this week.

On Wednesday, Ukrainian emergency workers pulled much bodies from nan rubble of a nine-story Kyiv flat building demolished by a Russian onslaught earlier this week, raising nan decease toll from nan onslaught connected nan superior to 28.

Russia's intensified attacks against Ukraine successful caller weeks person been condemned by respective world organisations — including nan OSCE and nan Council of Europe — arsenic violations of world humanitarian law.

Two rounds of nonstop bid talks betwixt Moscow and Kyiv grounded to make advancement connected ending Russia's war, now successful its 4th year.