Putin,Trump, discuss Mideast, Ukraine, on birthday call
Russian President Vladimir Putin has had a 50-minute phone call with US President Donald Trump, focusing on hostilities between Israel and Iran and calling for efforts to bring them to an end.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Putin condemned the Israeli military operation against Iran and expressed concern about the risks of escalation.
Trump, in his account on Truth Social, said most of the discussion centred on the Middle East, but that he also told Putin Russia’s war in Ukraine should end.
“Vladimir Putin condemned Israel’s military operation against Iran and expressed serious concern about a possible escalation of the conflict, which would have unpredictable consequences for the entire situation in the Middle East,” Ushakov told reporters.
Ushakov said Trump described events in the Middle East as “very alarming”. But the two leaders said they did not rule out a return to the negotiating track on Iran’s nuclear program, Ushakov said.
Ushakov said US negotiators were ready to hold further talks with Iranian representatives, with Oman as mediator. The latest round, scheduled for Sunday in Oman, has been cancelled.
The Kremlin aide said Putin told Trump Russia stood by proposals to ease tension and resolve issues concerning Iran’s nuclear program.
“The Russian president recalled that prior to the current rise in tension our side had proposed concrete steps intended to find mutually acceptable agreements during talks between US and Iranian representatives about the Iranian nuclear program,” Ushakov said.
Reuters
