Putin Congratulates Trump on Birthday; Phone Call Discusses Ukraine War
In a Sunday phone call, Trump told Putin that ending the war in Ukraine is critically important and he is ready to help, while also informing him that the US is close to a peace deal with Iran.
US President Donald Trump spoke with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on Sunday, telling him that ending Russia's prolonged war in Ukraine is critically important and that he is ready to help, according to Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov. During the roughly one-hour call, Trump also informed Putin that the US is nearing a peace agreement with Iran, as the US-Israel war against that country continues.
Ushakov described the conversation as "friendly and open." Putin informally congratulated Trump on his 80th birthday, expressing high regard for the mutual understanding that allows them to directly discuss even the most complex issues. In his greeting, Putin said he believes that joint efforts could give Russian-US relations a new quality and achieve much to ensure global security and stability.
The war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has now lasted over four years—longer than World War I. Peace talks have largely stalled, but Trump administration officials have recently stated they want the war in Ukraine to end "as soon as possible."
