On Wednesday, President Donald Trump reported an extensive phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which they discussed Ukraine’s recent attack on Russian military aircraft and the ongoing nuclear negotiations involving Iran.
During the call, Putin expressed his intention to retaliate against Ukraine following what has been described by Kyiv as a major surprise offensive. Trump noted that this attack led to strikes on over 40 Russian bombers, as claimed by Ukrainian officials.
Trump characterized the discussion as productive but tempered his optimism regarding immediate peace prospects. In a post on Truth Social, he stated, “It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace.”
The Kremlin confirmed the conversation, which took place amid ongoing hostilities that have persisted for more than three years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Trump reiterated that Putin strongly indicated a forthcoming response to the recent attacks on airfields.
Details of the dialogue regarding Iran also emerged, with Trump highlighting the urgency of the situation regarding Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. “I stated to President Putin that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement,” Trump noted. He emphasized the need for a quick decision from Iran, indicating that time is limited.
Putin mentioned his willingness to participate in discussions concerning Iran, suggesting he could assist in expediting the negotiation process. Trump criticized Iran for allegedly delaying its decisions, asserting, “we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!”
As a candidate, Trump had promised to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict swiftly upon assuming office. However, his efforts to mediate have not yielded significant progress, with both sides remaining distant from any agreement on territorial issues.
The current stance of Biden’s administration toward Ukraine has evolved, with Trump and his supporters openly criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Furthermore, Trump has adopted a more critical tone toward Putin in recent remarks, declaring that the Russian leader “has gone absolutely CRAZY!”
