The Kremlin has reportedly proposed a deal to Washington, suggesting that Russia would cease sharing intelligence about U.S. military operations in the Middle East in exchange for the U.S. halting its intelligence sharing on Russia’s activities in Ukraine. This information comes from Politico, citing two sources familiar with the ongoing U.S.-Russia negotiations.
According to the sources, the proposal was delivered last week by Kirill Dmitriev, a special envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Dmitriev contacted U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who serve as special envoys for President Donald Trump.
While the White House has rejected the Kremlin’s offer, the mere existence of such discussions has raised alarms among European diplomats. They fear that Russia may be attempting to create a rift between Europe and the U.S. at a critical time for transatlantic relations.
In response to the Politico report, Dmitriev stated on September 20 that the claims regarding intelligence sharing were inaccurate, labeling the report as “fake” on the banned social media platform X in Russia.
Earlier reports from the Wall Street Journal indicated that Russia has been enhancing its intelligence exchange and military cooperation with Iran, providing satellite imagery and advanced drone technology to assist Tehran in targeting U.S. forces in the region. Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for President Putin, dismissed the reports as numerous “information leaks.”
In March, The Washington Post revealed that Russian support had enabled Iran to conduct recent strikes against U.S. radar systems in the Middle East. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, addressing the British Parliament on March 17, asserted that Kyiv possesses “clear evidence” that Iranian Shahed drones used in the Middle East contain Russian components.
U.S. intelligence agencies have refrained from publicly commenting on allegations of Russia supplying information to Iran for attacks in the Middle East. President Trump has also stated that he has no evidence of Russian support for Iran.
The Kremlin's recent proposal to the U.S. to exchange intelligence regarding military operations has sparked concerns among European diplomats about potential divisions. While the White House rejected the offer, the implications of Russia's ongoing military cooperation with Iran continue to raise alarms.
Source: Politico