PUTIN AND TRUMP TALK ABOUT IRAN, UKRAINE IN THEIR FIFTH PHONE CALL

Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone today. Russia Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov reported in a statement that the conversation lasted for 50 minutes and that it was substantive, sincere and, most important, very useful.

“Naturally, it was focused on the dangerous exacerbation of the situation in the Middle East,” he said. “Vladimir Putin denounced the Israelis’ military operation against Iran and expressed a grave concern over the possible escalation of the conflict, which would have unpredictable consequences for the entire situation in the Middle East region.”

Putin “advised the U.S. counterpart on his yesterday’s telephone contacts with the Israeli Prime Minister and the President of Iran,” Ushakov continued. “He emphasized the importance of preventing the conflict from escalating and the readiness of the Russian side to engage in possible mediation efforts.”

Putin reminded Trump that, prior to the current escalation, Russia “had proposed specific steps intended to reach mutually acceptable agreements during the negotiations between U.S. and Iranian representatives on the Iranian nuclear program, but Israel delivered the strikes right on the eve of the next negotiation round scheduled for June 15,” Ushakov said.

Ushakov reported that “Trump also views the situation as very alarming, admitting, however, the effectiveness of Israel’s strikes on its targets in Iran. But it is characteristic that the Russian and U.S. Presidents, notwithstanding such a complicated situation, do not rule out a return to the negotiating track on Iran’s nuclear program.” Trump noted, he said further, that “the team of U.S. negotiators is ready for resuming work with Iranian representatives.”

The two Presidents also spoke about Ukraine, with Putin updating Trump on the progress of the prisoner exchanges agreed on the June 2nd negotiations in Istanbul.

Trump, for his part, said much less in a post on Truth Social. “We talked at length” about Iran, Trump said, but “Much less time” talking about Ukraine, “but that will be for next week.”

“He (Putin) is doing the planned prisoner swaps—large numbers of prisoners are being exchanged, immediately, from both sides,” Trump concluded. “The call lasted approximately 1 hour. He feels, as do I, this war in Israel-Iran should end, to which I explained, his war should also end.”