Putin tells Witkoff Russia ready to help resolve US-Iran conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin met US special envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg on Wednesday and said Moscow is ready to take steps to help resolve the crisis concerning Iran, according to Mehr News. Putin conveyed Russia's position at the start of the meeting, saying he was very interested in hearing the US assessment of the situation in the West Asia region and the issues concerning Iran.

Putin pointed to Russia's special, trust-based relationship with Iran, describing it as a bond developed over decades, and said Moscow would be pleased to take any steps to help resolve the crisis. The remarks referred to the West Asia escalation that followed the US-Israeli war on Iran.

On tensions with Ukraine, the Russian president referred to his recent phone conversation with his US counterpart and expressed appreciation for President Donald Trump's attention toward resolving the Moscow-Kiev conflict. He also described an agreement on the supply of Russian diesel to the US and global markets as positive, and expressed Russia's readiness to revive economic cooperation with the United States.

Witkoff, for his part, focused his talks on Trump's gratitude to Putin over the supply of Russian diesel, as well as the possible resumption of trilateral talks between the United States, Ukraine and Russia. The US special envoy met Putin without Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, who had accompanied him on his two previous meetings and was reportedly absent due to illness.

According to Mehr News, the meeting in St. Petersburg brought together the Russian president and the US envoy amid ongoing regional tensions over Iran and continued diplomatic efforts concerning the war in Ukraine.