Putin Says Russia Willing to Seek Compromises between Iran and Israel

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with heads of leading media outlets from the BRICS member countries in Moscow Region, Russia October 18, 2024. Sputnik/Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Pool via Reuters
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with heads of leading media outlets from the BRICS member countries in Moscow Region, Russia October 18, 2024. Sputnik/Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Pool via Reuters
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Putin Says Russia Willing to Seek Compromises between Iran and Israel

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with heads of leading media outlets from the BRICS member countries in Moscow Region, Russia October 18, 2024. Sputnik/Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Pool via Reuters
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with heads of leading media outlets from the BRICS member countries in Moscow Region, Russia October 18, 2024. Sputnik/Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Pool via Reuters

Russia is ready to help seek compromises between arch-foes Israel and Iran, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, saying these would be difficult but possible.

"We are in contact with Israel, we are in contact with Iran. We have quite trusting relations. And we would very much like this endless exchange of blows to be stopped at some point. And for such ways to resolve the situation to be found that would satisfy both sides," Putin told reporters.

"The answer to this question always lies in the search for compromises. Are they possible in this situation or not? I think so. No matter how difficult it may be, but in my opinion, it is possible."

Israel has decapitated the leadership of Iran's allies Hamas and Hezbollah in recent weeks, and Iran fired missiles into Israel on Oct. 1. The region is now braced for Israel's response.

Putin said Russia was willing to get involved if both sides wanted that.

"If this is in demand, we are ready to do everything in our power in contact with both sides to help find these compromises," he said.



US Will Not Return Nuclear Weapons to Ukraine

A Ukrainian serviceman from an anti-drone mobile air defence unit uses his mobile device near a ZU-23-2 anti aircraft cannon as he waits for Russian kamikaze drones, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kherson region, Ukraine June 11, 2024. REUTERS/Ivan Antypenko/File Photo
A Ukrainian serviceman from an anti-drone mobile air defence unit uses his mobile device near a ZU-23-2 anti aircraft cannon as he waits for Russian kamikaze drones, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kherson region, Ukraine June 11, 2024. REUTERS/Ivan Antypenko/File Photo
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US Will Not Return Nuclear Weapons to Ukraine

A Ukrainian serviceman from an anti-drone mobile air defence unit uses his mobile device near a ZU-23-2 anti aircraft cannon as he waits for Russian kamikaze drones, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kherson region, Ukraine June 11, 2024. REUTERS/Ivan Antypenko/File Photo
A Ukrainian serviceman from an anti-drone mobile air defence unit uses his mobile device near a ZU-23-2 anti aircraft cannon as he waits for Russian kamikaze drones, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kherson region, Ukraine June 11, 2024. REUTERS/Ivan Antypenko/File Photo

The United States is not considering returning to Ukraine the nuclear weapons it gave up after the Soviet Union collapsed, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday.

Sullivan made his remarks when questioned about a New York Times article last month that said some unidentified Western officials had suggested US President Joe Biden could give Ukraine the arms before he leaves office, Reuters reported.

"That is not under consideration, no. What we are doing is surging various conventional capacities to Ukraine so that they can effectively defend themselves and take the fight to the Russians, not (giving them) nuclear capability," he told ABC.

Last week, Russia said the idea was "absolute insanity" and that preventing such a scenario was one of the reasons why Moscow sent troops into Ukraine.

Kyiv inherited nuclear weapons from the Soviet Union after its 1991 collapse but gave them up under a 1994 agreement, the Budapest Memorandum, in return for security assurances from Russia, the United States and Britain.