Kristian Kahrs
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
In a stunning turn amid the ongoing war against Iran, US President Donald Trump has taken the extraordinary step of personally calling Russian President Vladimir Putin to plead for assistance in ending the conflict.
This comes just days after the war plunged global energy markets into chaos, with oil prices still hovering around $85–90 per barrel — a surge that threatens Trump’s domestic economy and political standing. According to sources like CNN and Reuters, Putin views this as a golden opportunity to exploit American weakness, and the Kremlin has already positioned itself as a potential mediator.
Behind the diplomatic veneer lies a harsh reality: Russia can now use the Iran crisis as a powerful lever to extract concessions from the United States on multiple fronts, including relief from oil sanctions and a softer stance on Ukraine.
The call, which took place late on the evening of March 10, lasted approximately one hour and was initiated by Trump himself, according to the Kremlin’s official readout from Putin’s foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov.
This marks the first conversation between the two leaders since December 2025, and the timing is far from coincidental. The war against Iran, which erupted roughly ten days ago, has rapidly deteriorated into a debacle for the US and Israel. The Strait of Hormuz remains blocked by Iranian forces, oil exports from Gulf states like Qatar and Bahrain are paralyzed, and global prices have skyrocketed.
As Alexander Mercouris, the prominent analyst, explains in his latest video: «Trump rang Putin because he wants Putin’s help.»
Mercouris frames this as a clear sign of growing doubts within the Trump administration, with reports from the Wall Street Journal indicating officials advising the president to seek an “offramp”—an exit from the nightmare.
The tone of the conversation was anything but warm. Ushakov described it as “business-like, frank, and constructive,” but Mercouris interprets this diplomatic phrasing as code for a contentious and potentially heated exchange. “Frank and businesslike” is diplomatic language for disagreement and pushback, says Mercouris.
“It suggests that the bromance between Putin and Trump is gone for good.” Putin presented a series of “considerations” aimed at achieving a swift political and diplomatic settlement to the Iranian conflict, drawing on his recent contacts with Gulf leaders and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Trump shared military updates on the ongoing US-Israeli operation, but no agreement was reached. Instead, Putin prioritized Iran over Ukraine, flatly rejecting any ceasefire there since Russian forces are “advancing successfully.”
This is where Russia’s geopolitical leverage truly comes into play. As CNN noted in its latest reporting, “Putin finds opportunity in crisis.” With Brent crude closing at $85.71 per barrel on March 11 (per Yahoo Finance) and April futures hovering around $83 (MarketWatch), the energy crisis remains acute.
Trump has hinted at easing sanctions on Russian oil to stabilize markets — a move Reuters confirms the US is actively considering. This would represent a massive concession: It would effectively end the economic war waged against Russia since 2022 and undermine support for Ukraine.
As Mercouris puts it: “If the oil sanctions are lifted, it is effectively the end of Project Ukraine.” Putin can now demand more — for instance, guarantees against future attacks on Iran or a more flexible American position in the trilateral Ukraine talks in Istanbul, which Zelenskyy has already complained are being postponed.
Updates from March 11 show the Kremlin offering mediation, as confirmed in segments from CNN-News18 and WION. Trump himself described the call as “very good” and stated that Putin “wants to be helpful” on the Middle East, according to ABC News.
Russia simultaneously denies sharing intelligence with Iran, as reported by CNBC from discussions between Trump’s envoys and Ushakov. Yet skeptics like the Atlantic Council warn: Once the Iran war ends, Trump must prioritize Ukraine — or risk losing everything.
Trump’s desperation underscores a profound shift in the balance of power. Iran remains defiant, with its new Supreme Leader Khamenei II and continued missile strikes. Putin, however, holds the cards: As mediator, he can dictate terms that include a return to nuclear agreements but without regime change in Tehran.
For the US, this means humiliation—and for the world, a potential end to the war, but at what cost? Russia has never had a better chance to press the United States into concessions across multiple fronts.
As Mercouris concludes: “If there is any individual who might be in a position to put the pieces back together then it is Vladimir Putin. I cannot at this time think of anyone else.”
Grok from xAI has been used for the adaptation of YouTube’s automatic captions. ·
First published in the Norwegian magazine Uten Filter, which means Without Filter in English.
Author profile: Christian, anti-war, national conservative, with a worldview based on offensive realism, a political science theory first used by Dr. John Mearsheimer, the world’s leading realist political scientist.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
