U.S. President Donald Trump has revealed details of a recent phone call with Vladimir Putin, in which he directly linked Russia's potential for a constructive global role to the cessation of hostilities in Ukraine. According to the American president, he made it clear to his Russian counterpart that any proposals from Moscow to assist in other regions, including the Middle East, would only be taken seriously after the Ukrainian conflict is resolved.
Characterizing the situation on the front lines, Trump described the ongoing hostilities as an "endless battle." He emphasized that "tremendous hatred" exists between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, calling it an insurmountable barrier to reaching an agreement. The U.S. leader noted that this personal animosity prevents the two sides from achieving a compromise on their own.
When Putin expressed readiness to assist in stabilizing the Middle East during the conversation, Trump responded with a counter-condition. He stated that Russia could be far more helpful if it brought the war in Ukraine to an end. Despite the firmness of his position, Trump summarized the hour-long discussion as "very good" and substantive.
The Kremlin confirmed the call but shifted the emphasis toward multilateral diplomacy. Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov reported that the primary topic of discussion was the conflict surrounding Iran. However, the Russian side acknowledged that the conversation touched upon a Ukrainian settlement, which is currently being discussed in a trilateral format involving U.S. representatives.