WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a lengthy phone conversation Saturday, discussing rising tensions in the Middle East and the ongoing war in Ukraine, as military conflicts intensify on multiple fronts.
According to a post by Trump on Truth Social, much of the call was focused on Israel’s ongoing airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and Tehran’s retaliatory missile attacks, which have heightened fears of a broader regional war. Trump said he also pressed Putin to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which entered its third year in February.
“He feels, as do I, this war in Israel-Iran should end, to which I explained, his war should also end,” Trump said, describing the call as lasting about an hour.
Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov confirmed the conversation and said the Russian president briefed Trump on Moscow’s recent engagements with leaders in Iran and Israel, including Russia’s proposal for a diplomatic resolution to tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program.
“Vladimir Putin, having condemned the military operation against Iran, expressed serious concern about the possible escalation of the conflict,” Ushakov told reporters. He warned that a spiraling confrontation between Israel and Iran posed “unpredictable consequences for the entire Middle East.”
Putin also reiterated Russia’s willingness to mediate, offering proposals for a mutually acceptable agreement in the context of nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran.
The call came amid growing scrutiny of the deepening Russia-Iran alliance, with Tehran supplying Moscow with drones, ballistic missiles, and other military equipment, according to U.S. intelligence. The partnership has drawn criticism from Western leaders and added a new dimension to the Ukraine conflict.
Despite the rising hostilities, Ushakov said neither Trump nor Putin ruled out the potential resumption of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks. The sixth round of those negotiations, scheduled to take place Sunday in Oman, was called off following Israel’s initial strikes on Iran. Oman’s foreign minister, Badr al-Busaidi, confirmed the cancellation.
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff had been due to attend the talks in Muscat, with hopes of reviving dialogue around Iran’s expanding uranium enrichment program.
In addition to Middle East developments, the two leaders discussed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, specifically the exchange of prisoners of war. Ushakov noted that a new swap took place Saturday, part of an arrangement brokered earlier this month in Istanbul, involving severely wounded detainees and soldiers under the age of 25.
“Our president noted that an exchange of prisoners of war is taking place,” Ushakov said, adding that Moscow remains open to further negotiations with Kyiv on humanitarian matters.
Trump also revealed that Putin wished him a happy birthday during the call. The U.S. president turned 79 on Saturday.
