Putin and Trump Discussed Iran, Ukraine in Phone Call

Russian President Vladimir Putin wished his US counterpart, Donald Trump, a happy 80th birthday during a phone call, presidential aide Yury Ushakov has told journalists. Trump was “touched” by the greeting, and the two leaders spoke for about an hour in a “friendly and open” manner, the official added.

Trump was particularly appreciative of the gesture, Ushakov said, noting that Putin was the first foreign leader to call and give his best wishes on Sunday.

Putin also thanked Trump for his Russia Day greeting earlier this week, adding that the American president’s message conveyed a “feeling of respect for the Russian people.”

The two presidents discussed a wide range of pressing international issues, including the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, as well as the Ukraine conflict, Ushakov said.

Trump said that he expected the results of the talks with Tehran to be made public later on Sunday and thanked Moscow for its engagement in the negotiating process and assistance in finding “constructive solutions” to the conflict between the US and Iran, Ushakov pointed out.

Putin said that he was glad the sides were able to contain the conflict which risked “igniting the entire region and beyond,” according to Ushakov. The Russian president also expressed his readiness to help stabilize the situation in the Middle East.

Trump called for a speedy cessation of hostilities in the Ukraine conflict and said that he was ready to “influence” Kiev and its European backers, including during the upcoming G7 summit later this month, the Kremlin aide said.

Putin responded by saying that continued Ukrainian strikes on Russian civilian infrastructure impede efforts to reach a settlement. He maintained that attacks targeting civilians would not change the Ukrainian military’s dire situation on the front line. Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky and his European backers only suggest options that would “prolong the conflict and extend the hostilities,” he explained.

Commenting on Vladimir Zelensky’s recent call for a personal meeting, Putin reiterated that the Ukrainian leader can come to Moscow if he wants to talk.

Putin and Trump also agreed that the US president’s special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are currently involved in talks with Iran, would visit Moscow “in the near future,” according to Ushakov.

The last phone call between the two presidents took place in late April, when they also discussed the Ukraine conflict and the situation in the Middle East. In May, Ushakov told journalists that Putin and Trump could meet in person on the sidelines of the APEC summit in China this November.

Trump also hinted at a possible trip to Russia earlier this year, telling journalists he would “do whatever is necessary” to help settle the Ukraine conflict. The Kremlin said at the time that Putin was ready to host the American president.