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Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held a phone conversation on Saturday, focusing on the worsening conflict in the Middle East and the ongoing war in Ukraine, according to a statement from the Kremlin.
The Kremlin described the discussion as part of an ongoing series of talks aimed at improving ties between the two nations. This marked the fifth conversation between the leaders since Trump’s return to the White House, signalling a clear shift in US-Russia relations following the more confrontational stance of former President Joe Biden.
At the heart of the call was the spiralling crisis between Iran and Israel, triggered by an Israeli air assault on Iranian targets on Friday, which led to retaliatory missile strikes from Tehran. Both leaders voiced serious concern about the developments, with Putin proposing Moscow as a potential mediator between the two hostile nations.
Despite the heightened tensions, the Kremlin noted that both Putin and Trump left the door open for a possible return to negotiations surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme.
The two leaders also discussed the situation in Ukraine, with Putin briefing Trump on the progress of recent diplomatic engagements, including the June 2 talks in Istanbul between Russian and Ukrainian representatives. He stated that Moscow was prepared to resume negotiations after June 22. Trump welcomed the update and reaffirmed his desire to see a rapid end to the conflict.
The call also featured a personal touch, with Putin congratulating Trump on his birthday. Both men reportedly acknowledged the historical military alliance between Russia and the US during World War II, referring to it as a “brotherhood in arms.”
