On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump engaged in a lengthy phone call that primarily focused on two major geopolitical issues: the escalating situation in the Middle East and Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. During the conversation, which Trump shared on his Truth Social platform, he emphasized that the majority of their discussion was dedicated to Israel's aggressive military actions aimed at dismantling Iran's nuclear capabilities, as well as Iran's subsequent retaliatory strikes.
Trump stated that he urged Putin to bring an end to Russia's hostilities in Ukraine, aligning their interests in seeking peace. "He feels, as do I, this war in Israel-Iran should end, to which I explained, his war should also end," Trump conveyed, noting that their conversation lasted for about an hour.
Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign affairs adviser, revealed that Putin briefed Trump on his discussions with the leaders of both Iran and Israel. He reiterated Russia's commitment to finding mutually acceptable solutions to the Iranian nuclear issue, emphasizing that Putin had condemned military actions against Iran and expressed deep concerns regarding the potential escalation of conflict in the region. Ushakov highlighted that such an escalation poses "unpredictable consequences for the entire situation in the Middle East."
Additionally, Putin indicated Russia's readiness to mediate in the conflict and mentioned that Russia had already proposed steps aimed at achieving agreements during U.S.-Iran negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program. The relationship between Russia and Iran has grown stronger since February 2022, when Putin initiated the war in Ukraine, with Iran supplying military support, including drones and ballistic missiles, according to U.S. intelligence findings.
Ushakov noted that while Trump characterized the current regional situation as "very alarming," he also acknowledged the effectiveness of Israel's military strikes on Iranian targets. Both leaders did not dismiss the possibility of returning to negotiations concerning Iran's nuclear program, hinting at openings for diplomacy amidst rising tensions.
In a related development, Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, was scheduled to travel to Oman for the sixth round of discussions with Iranian officials, aimed at curtailing Tehran's nuclear ambitions. However, in light of Israel's recent strikes, Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi announced that the meeting would not proceed as planned.
During the call, Putin and Trump also touched upon the ongoing prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine. Both countries had recently exchanged prisoners under an agreement reached following negotiations in Istanbul earlier in the month. Ushakov remarked that the exchange included seriously wounded individuals as well as prisoners under the age of 25, reaffirming the willingness to continue discussions with Ukrainian representatives.
As a personal note, Trump shared that Putin extended birthday wishes to him, as the U.S. president turned 79 on the day of their conversation.
