Washington, D.C. – Former U.S. President Donald Trump revealed on Wednesday that he held an extended phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which the two leaders discussed escalating tensions in Ukraine and ongoing efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Trump, speaking via a social media post, said the conversation lasted one hour and 15 minutes and came on the heels of a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack that reportedly destroyed multiple Russian nuclear-capable bombers at military airbases. The strike marked one of the most daring Ukrainian operations against Russian military assets since the war began in 2022.
“It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace,” Trump said. “President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.”
While Trump did not confirm whether he had urged Putin to refrain from retaliating, he acknowledged the Russian leader’s firm position. “We discussed the attack on Russia’s docked airplanes by Ukraine and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides,” he said.
Frustration Over Prolonged Conflict
Trump has long pledged to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, even vowing during his 2024 campaign that he could do so within 24 hours of returning to office. However, Wednesday’s statement suggests mounting frustration with Putin, as no resolution appears imminent.
His frequent remarks questioning Washington’s military support for Kyiv — alongside previous comments that appeared sympathetic to Moscow — have unsettled allies in Europe and drawn criticism from Ukrainian officials. His tense Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remains a point of contention.
New Front: Iran’s Nuclear Program
Amid the Ukraine conflict, Trump said the call also shifted to another pressing global issue: Iran’s nuclear program. He indicated that both Washington and Moscow share a mutual interest in preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
“President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion,” Trump noted.
He criticized Iran’s pace in responding to U.S. diplomatic overtures, saying, “Iran has been slowwalking their decision on this very important matter, and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time.”
This comes a day after the Kremlin announced that Putin had offered his country’s support in reviving stalled nuclear negotiations with Tehran during a call with newly elected Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Deepening Standoff
Despite these developments, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed U.S. proposals on Wednesday, labeling them incompatible with national interests and insisting that Tehran’s uranium enrichment program would continue. The remarks suggest that any joint U.S.-Russia diplomatic push on Iran faces stiff resistance.
As tensions in both Eastern Europe and the Middle East remain high, Wednesday’s call illustrates the complex and often contradictory dynamics between Washington and Moscow — two powers still capable of cooperation on global issues, even amid deep divisions.
No formal statement has been released by the Kremlin regarding the content of the Trump-Putin call. The White House and U.S. State Department have also not issued any immediate comments.