Putin, Trump discuss Middle East tensions, Ukraine war in phone call
Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump held a lengthy call on Saturday (June 15, 2025) to discuss the escalating situation in the Middle East and Russia's war in Ukraine.
Mr. Trump, in a posting on his Truth Social platform, said they spent the bulk of their conversation focused on Israel's ongoing blistering attacks aimed at decapitating Iran's nuclear programme and Iran's retaliatory strikes. But Trump said that he also pressed Putin to end Russia's war in Ukraine.
"He feels, as do I, this war in Israel-Iran should end, to which I explained, his war should also end," said Trump, who added the conversation went about an hour.
Mr. Putin's foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said Mr. Putin briefed Mr. Trump on his recent talks with the leaders of Iran and Israel and reiterated Russia's proposal to seek mutually acceptable solutions on the Iranian nuclear issue.
"Vladimir Putin, having condemned the military operation against Iran, expressed serious concern about the possible escalation of the conflict," Ushakov told reporters. He added that Mr. Putin raised concerns that escalating conflict between Israel and Iran threatened "unpredictable consequences for the entire situation in the Middle East".
Mr. Putin also emphasised Russia's readiness to carry out possible mediation efforts, and noted that Russia had proposed steps "aimed at finding mutually-acceptable agreements" during US-Iran negotiations on the Iranian nuclear programme.
The Russia-Iran relationship has deepened since Putin launched a war on Ukraine in February 2022, with Tehran providing Moscow with drones, ballistic missiles and other support, according to US intelligence findings.
"Russia's principled approach and interest in the settlement remain unchanged," Ushakov said.
Mr. Trump described the regional situation as "very alarming", Ushakov said, but acknowledged the "effectiveness" of Israel's strikes on targets in Iran.
The leaders did not rule out a possible return to negotiations on the Iranian nuclear programme, according to Ushakov.
Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff had been set to travel on Sunday to Oman for a sixth round of talks with Iranian officials aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear programme -- a meeting that was set before Israel launched strikes on Friday. But Oman's foreign minister, Badr al-Busaidi, said on Saturday that the meeting would not take place as planned.
Putin and Trump also discussed the ongoing exchange of war prisoners between Russia and Ukraine. The two sides traded more prisoners on Saturday under an arrangement brokered during talks between the two sides in Istanbul earlier this month.
"Our president noted that an exchange of prisoners of war is taking place, including seriously-wounded and prisoners of war under 25 years of age," Ushakov said, along with expressing readiness to continue negotiations with the Ukrainians.
Trump said Putin also wished him "a Happy Birthday". The US leader turned 79 on Saturday. (AP) RC
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