Putin and Trump Communicate for the First Time in Three Years: Key Issues?
Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with his American counterpart, Donald Trump, marking their first publicly announced direct conversation in three years. The call lasted 90 minutes, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
During the conversation, Putin emphasized the importance of addressing the “deep roots of the conflict” in Ukraine, stating that a “long-term solution” could be achieved through peace negotiations. He also invited Trump to visit Moscow and expressed his willingness to receive U.S. officials as part of efforts to establish peace.
The discussions also covered other issues, including the situation in the Middle East, the Iranian nuclear file, economic relations between Moscow and Washington, and the exchange of detainees between the two countries.
Trump’s Statements on the Talks
For his part, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he had instructed several American officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, to begin negotiations with the Russian side, expressing hope for an end to the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv. He also emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two nations, recalling their shared historical ties and stressing the need to halt the human losses caused by the war.
Additionally, Trump welcomed the release of American citizen Mark Fogel, who was recently freed by Moscow. In return, Washington agreed to release Russian national Alexander Vinnik, who was accused of crimes related to a cryptocurrency exchange platform.
