Russia proposed a unique exchange to the United States: the Kremlin would stop sharing intelligence with Iran if Washington halted its provision of information regarding Russian troops to Ukraine.
As reported by "Hvylya", Politico disclosed the details of this offer.
According to the publication's sources, Russian representative Kirill Dmitriev pitched the proposal to Trump administration envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner during their meeting in Miami last week. The United States rejected the idea.
Despite Washington's refusal, the mere occurrence of such negotiations has caused deep concern among European diplomats. They fear Moscow is attempting to drive a wedge between Europe and the US amid rising global tensions. One EU diplomat described the Russian initiative as "outrageous."
Donald Trump recently hinted at a connection between intelligence sharing with Iran and Ukraine during a Fox News interview: "He [Putin] might be helping them [Iran] a little bit, yes, I would think, and he probably figures we're helping Ukraine, right?"
Moscow significantly expanded data sharing with Tehran following the outbreak of the full-scale war. This cooperation involves transmitting the exact coordinates of American military facilities in the Middle East, along with satellite imagery and drone technologies. Furthermore, the US rejected another Russian proposal to transfer enriched uranium from Iran to Russian territory.
Intelligence sharing remains a key pillar of American support for Ukraine after the Trump administration halted most financial and military aid to Kyiv last year. Meanwhile, Europe is actively trying to offset potential risks. French President Emmanuel Macron stated in January that Paris now provides "two-thirds" of the military intelligence utilized by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Tensions among allies are also mounting following the Trump administration's recent decision to ease sanctions on Russian oil. This move drew sharp criticism from European leaders, notably German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.