Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump had an hour-long phone conversation, the sixth publicly known contact since Trump took office in January 2025, according to Reuters.
The main topic was the war in Ukraine, but the presidents also touched on the situation in the Middle East. According to Russian and international sources, Putin insisted that Russia would not back down from its goals, while Trump pushed for a quick ceasefire.
According to a Kremlin advisor. Yuri Ushakovquoted by Reuters, Putin stressed that Russia would not back down from its goals in Ukraine, namely the elimination of the "root causes" of the conflict. The TASS news agency specified that by this the Kremlin meant NATO expansion, the presence of foreign troops in Ukraine and demands for "de-Nazification" and "demilitarisation".
According to TASS, Putin expressed willingness to continue diplomatic negotiations, but only under conditions that take into account Russian interests, including a ban on Ukraine's entry into NATO and recognition of annexed territories. Ushakov added that a specific plan for a personal meeting between the presidents had not been agreed upon, but they agreed to continue the dialogue.
Trump, on the other hand, pushed for an immediate ceasefire. On Truth Social, he called the call "excellent" and suggested it could lead to economic cooperation between the US and Russia after the war ends. According to Reuters, Trump has again proposed a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine backed at talks in Saudi Arabia, but Russia has rejected until its terms are met.
In addition to Ukraine, the presidents discussed the Middle East, specifically Iran's nuclear programme, according to TASS and AP News. Putin offered Trump Russian assistance in negotiating with Iran, in an effort to present Russia as a global partner. Ushakov stressed that this issue was one of the main points of discussion, and Putin expressed concern about escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Platform X expressed skepticism about Putin's demands, which he described as an attempt to weaken Ukrainian sovereignty. In his view, conditions such as recognition of annexed territories or restrictions on the Ukrainian army are not acceptable. Zelensky called for more international pressure on Russia and stressed that Kiev is ready for a ceasefire, but not at the price of surrender.
European leaders, including the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, expressed concern about Trump's dealings with Putin. According to The Guardian, von der Leyen warned that agreements without Ukraine's participation could jeopardise her position. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz according to The Washington Post, criticized Trump's passive approach, which he said gives Russia room for further military action.
TASS quoted a Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskovwho declined to give details of the conversation in order "did not disrupt the negotiation process". The Kremlin has indicated that it is preparing another round of talks with Ukraine, but without a specific timetable.
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