Buried.News

Politico reports that a Russian envoy proposed the U.S. stop sharing intelligence with Ukraine in exchange for Russia stopping intelligence-sharing with Iran about U.S. Middle East assets. The piece leans heavily on anonymous officials while noting a direct denial from the Russian side and offering limited verifiable detail about what was actually proposed or discussed. This matters because intelligence sharing is now a central point of pressure in U.S.-Ukraine support and a lever Russia can use to split U.S. and European policy.

Politico says two people familiar with U.S.-Russia negotiations claim Kirill Dmitriev floated a quid pro quo: Russia would stop sharing intelligence with Iran (including coordinates of U.S. assets) if the U.S. stopped providing Ukraine intelligence about Russia. The reported proposal was said to have been made to Trump administration envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner during a meeting “last week” in Miami, according to the anonymous sources in the article text. Politico reports the U.S. rejected the proposal, per the same anonymous sources; the White House declined comment and the Russian embassy did not respond. Dmitriev publicly called the report “fake” in a post on X, per the article text. The article frames European diplomat concern as partly about Russia trying to “drive a wedge” between Europe and the U.S. and to sideline Europe in U.S.-Russia dealings. Politico notes the Kremlin said on Thursday that U.S.-mediated Ukraine peace talks were “on hold,” without detailing what the pause means procedurally. The article asserts (via an unnamed person briefed on intelligence) that Russia-Iran intelligence sharing and military cooperation expanded after the war began, and references prior reporting about satellite imagery/drone tech; it also notes Russia denied that earlier reporting as “fake news.” Politico says U.S. intelligence sharing with Ukraine continues even as other support has been reduced, and references a prior temporary pause after an Oval Office meeting with Zelenskyy described as “disastrous.” One unnamed European diplomat is quoted downplaying risk by citing Macron’s January remark that “two-thirds” of military intelligence for Ukraine is now provided by France (as presented in the article text). Politico adds that U.S. material support has shifted to weapons deliveries under a NATO-led paid program, and that air-defense munitions are strained amid a U.S.-Israel war with Iran (as stated in the article text). The article also says the Trump administration eased sanctions on Russian oil to reduce oil-market pressure, which prompted European criticism (as characterized in the article text).