Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have noted that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is likely trying to divert attention from Russia's war against Ukraine by offering to mediate in the Middle East conflict.

Trump has generally veered away from overtly criticizing Putin while openly berating Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky, but has repeatedly condemned Russia's lethal airstrikes and floated that the Kremlin could be "tapping us along."

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with US President Donald Trump, the Russian state news agency TASS informs. Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov said the conversation lasted 50 minutes and was "useful.