Monday, 25 May 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump speak in Hamburg, Germany, on July 7, 2017. (Mikhail Klimentyev / AFP via Getty Images)
Trump and Putin discuss Ukraine conflict and Iran
US President Donald Trump held an hour-long phone conversation on Thursday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, focusing on the ongoing war in Ukraine and what the Kremlin referred to as "the Iranian issue," according to Axios.
The discussion came at a time when Trump's efforts to broker an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict had stalled, just two days after the United States halted weapons deliveries to Ukrainian forces.
Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign policy adviser, stated that the subject of U.S. arms shipments was not addressed during the conversation. Ushakov noted that Trump and Putin engaged in a thorough exchange about Iran and broader developments in the Middle East.
According to Ushakov, Putin emphasized that the Iranian issue should be resolved solely through diplomatic means. During the call, Trump reiterated his desire for a rapid end to the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Putin made it clear to Trump that Russia remains committed to its objectives in Ukraine, Ushakov added, and asserted that peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are a bilateral matter, with no need for direct U.S. involvement.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials reported that President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to speak with Trump on Friday to address the recent suspension of weapons shipments.