U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly dismissed an offer from Russian President Vladimir Putin to mediate peace talks between Israel and Iran, urging the Russian leader to prioritize solving Russia’s own internal and international conflicts—particularly the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Speaking on Wednesday, June 18, Trump revealed details of a recent conversation with Putin, during which the Russian president proposed stepping in as a neutral mediator to de-escalate mounting tensions in the Middle East.

“I spoke to Putin yesterday, and he actually offered to help mediate,” Trump said. “I told him, ‘Do me a favor—mediate your own. Let’s mediate Russia first.’ I said, ‘Vladimir, take care of your own problems before worrying about the Middle East.’”

The exchange comes just days after the Kremlin announced Putin’s willingness to serve as a go-between in the deepening Israel-Iran conflict, citing Moscow’s existing diplomatic ties with both nations. The Russian government has expressed concern that the ongoing hostilities could spiral into a full-blown regional war.

However, many Western analysts view Putin’s offer as a calculated move aimed at repositioning Russia as a global peace broker—despite its continued military aggression in Ukraine, now entering its fourth year. With Moscow increasingly isolated on the world stage, critics say the Kremlin’s overture is part of a broader effort to deflect attention from domestic economic woes and military setbacks.

Trump’s blunt rejection signals Washington’s unwillingness to involve Moscow in sensitive geopolitical negotiations while it remains a belligerent power embroiled in a protracted conflict of its own making.