Russia proposed intel swap with US on Iran and Ukraine, Washington rejected offer: Report

US President Donald Trump (R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands at the end of a joint press conference after participating in a US-Russia summit on Ukraine at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, 2025. (Photo by Drew ANGERER / AFP)

Russia proposed halting intelligence-sharing with Iran if the US stopped supporting Ukraine, alarming European diplomats who fear Moscow aims to reshape alliances. The US rejected the offer, amid concerns over deepening Russia-Iran ties and shifting strategic balance.

Did our AI summary help?

Russia recently proposed a controversial intelligence swap with the United States, offering to halt its intelligence-sharing with Iran in exchange for Washington cutting off intelligence support to Ukraine, according to a report by Politico. The proposal, made during backchannel talks, has raised alarm among European diplomats who see it as an attempt by Moscow to reshape geopolitical alignments.

According to Politico, Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev floated the idea during a meeting in Miami last week with Trump administration envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Two people familiar with the discussions said Moscow suggested it would stop sharing sensitive intelligence with Tehran, including the coordinates of US military assets in the Middle East, if the US reciprocated by ending intelligence support to Kyiv. The United States rejected the proposal, the sources said.

The mere existence of the offer has unsettled European allies, who fear it signals a broader Russian effort to sideline Europe in critical negotiations. One EU diplomat described the proposal as “outrageous,” warning that such moves could deepen suspicions that ongoing US-Russia talks are less about ending the war in Ukraine and more about striking a deal between the two powers at Europe’s expense.

The concerns come amid already strained transatlantic ties. US President Donald Trump has criticised NATO allies for their reluctance to deploy warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, calling them “COWARDS” and warning, “we will REMEMBER!” The White House declined to comment on the Russian proposal, while the Russian Embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for clarification.

Politico also reported that Russia has made several proposals to the US regarding Iran, all of which have been rejected. Among them was a suggestion to move Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile to Russia, a plan earlier reported by Axios. Meanwhile, US mediated Ukraine peace talks have stalled, with the Kremlin saying on Thursday that negotiations are now “on hold.”

At the same time, concerns are growing over deepening Russia-Iran cooperation. A person briefed on intelligence matters said Moscow has expanded intelligence-sharing and military collaboration with Tehran since the war began. The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Russia is providing satellite imagery and drone technology to help Iran target US forces, a claim the Kremlin dismissed as “fake news.”

President Trump himself hinted at a possible linkage between Russia’s actions in Iran and the Ukraine conflict. Speaking to Fox News, he said Russian President Vladimir Putin “might be helping them [Iran] a little bit, yeah, I guess, and he probably thinks we're helping Ukraine, right?”

Despite tensions, the United States continues to share intelligence with Ukraine, which remains one of the last major pillars of American support after reductions in direct military and financial aid. That support briefly faltered last year following a contentious Oval Office meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, exposing divisions within the alliance.

European officials are attempting to reassure themselves that Ukraine is not entirely dependent on Washington. One diplomat pointed out that French President Emmanuel Macron had said in January that “two-thirds” of military intelligence for Ukraine is now provided by France. However, US intelligence support still plays a crucial role, particularly as deliveries of key air defence munitions come under pressure due to the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran.

Adding to European unease, the Trump administration recently eased sanctions on Russian oil to stabilise global energy markets, a move that drew sharp criticism from leaders including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Together, these developments are fuelling fears in Europe that the strategic balance may be shifting at a critical moment in both the Ukraine war and the broader geopolitical contest.