Trump and Putin discuss Iran and Ukraine wars in "frank" phone call

Moscow, Russia - Russia's President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump on Monday discussed the wars in Ukraine and Iran during a "frank and constructive" telephone call, the Kremlin said.

US President Donald Trump (l.) and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on Monday – their first talks since December.
US President Donald Trump (l.) and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on Monday – their first talks since December.  © Collage: Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP & Gavriil Grigorov / POOL / AFP

Putin and Trump held a one-hour call in their first talks since December, and Washington sought the discussion, Putin's diplomatic advisor Yuri Ushakov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.

"The accent was placed on the situation surrounding the conflict with Iran and the bilateral negotiations underway with the representatives of the United States on settling the Ukrainian question," Ushakov said.

Hegseth responds to reports of Russia aiding Iran's targeting: "We're tracking everything"
Pete Hegseth Hegseth responds to reports of Russia aiding Iran's targeting: "We're tracking everything"

Ushakov said Putin called for a "quick political and diplomatic settlement" to the US-Israeli war against Iran, which has been a key ally for Russia.

The Russian leader also gave Trump "a description of the current situation on the line of contact where Russian troops are progressing with a lot of success", he added, referring to the Ukraine war.

Putin "positively evaluated the mediation efforts undertaken" by Trump in the Ukraine conflict, the advisor said. A series of talks have been held between Russian and US officials and between Russian, US, and Ukrainian officials, but with no breakthrough in efforts to reach a ceasefire.

Ushakov said Washington had wanted to "discuss a series of extremely important questions linked to the current international situation".

"The conversation was serious and constructive," he added.

Trump and Putin held a summit in Alaska in August last year.

Cover photo: Collage: Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP & Gavriil Grigorov / POOL / AFP

More on Donald Trump: