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President Trump spoke by phone Saturday with Russian strongman Vladimir Putin, who wished him a happy 79th birthday and slammed Israel’s pre-emptive strike on Iran, the Kremlin said.
The two spoke on the phone for about 50 minutes about the possibility of reviving negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, which was the impetus for Israel’s strikes on Tehran this week, Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said in a readout.
“President Putin called this morning to very nicely wish me a Happy Birthday, but to more importantly, talk about Iran, a country he knows very well,” Trump later confirmed on Truth Social Saturday.
“We talked at length. Much less time was spent talking about Russia/Ukraine, but that will be for next week. He is doing the planned prisoner swaps – large numbers of prisoners are being exchanged, immediately, from both sides,” he continued.
“He feels, as do I, this war in Israel-Iran should end, to which I explained, his war should also end.”
On Thursday, in US time, Israel conducted a barrage of strikes that wiped out top Iranian military brass, leading scientists, nuclear facilities, and other military installations. The Jewish state has warned that it’s just the beginning of its efforts as it seeks to eliminate Tehran’s nuclear program.
Russia, which has benefited from drone technology and other assistance from the Iranians in its war efforts against Ukraine, quickly condemned Israel’s attack on Iran.
“We strongly condemn the military actions undertaken by the State of Israel on the night of June 13, which constitute a clear violation of the U.N. Charter as well as established principles of international law,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday, without any
“The international community must not ignore such acts, which not only jeopardize peace but also undermine security both in the region and globally,” the Russian Foreign Ministry demanded, prompting critics to accuse the Kremlin of hypocrisy given the unprovoked war it started in Ukraine over three years ago.
The Trump administration had planned to participate in scheduled negotiations in Oman on Sunday with Iranian counterparts over the theocratic regime’s nuclear program.
“We remain committed to a Diplomatic Resolution to the Iran Nuclear Issue!” Trump said on Truth Social Friday. “My entire Administration has been directed to negotiate with Iran. They could be a Great Country, but they first must completely give up hopes of obtaining a Nuclear Weapon.”
During their call, Putin conveyed his willingness to engage in further negotiations over the war in Ukraine, according to Ushakov.
Trump and Putin had a call earlier this month, but publicly acknowledged that it is “not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly urged Trump on Saturday to recalibrate his approach to Russia and begin taking a tougher tone.
“Right now, the tone of the U.S.–Russia dialogue feels too warm. Let’s be honest: that won’t stop Putin. What’s needed is a shift in tone,” Zelensky wrote on X.
“Putin must understand clearly: America will stand with Ukraine, including by imposing sanctions and supporting our army. Any signals of reduced aid, or of treating Ukraine and Russia as equals, are deeply unfair. Russia is the aggressor. They started this war. They do not want to end it.”
Trump is expected to head to Canada on Sunday for the Group of Seven meeting. Zelensky has pushed to meet with Trump at the G7.
