Russian President Vladimir Putin called President Donald Trump to wish him a happy birthday and speak about the escalating conflict in the Middle East on Saturday.
Putin spoke with Trump about the Russian president’s conversations with the leaders of Iran and Israel as tensions heat up.
“The dangerous escalation of the situation in the Middle East was naturally at the center of the exchange of opinions,” Putin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov told journalists.
“Vladimir Putin, having condemned the military operation against Iran, expressed serious concern about the possible escalation of the conflict,” he said, warning of “unpredictable consequences for the entire situation in the Middle East.”
Ushakov said Putin emphasized that Russia is ready to mediate between Israel and Iran as well as propose steps “aimed at finding mutually acceptable agreements” in the Iran-U.S. nuclear talks, which have now stalled.
“Russia’s principled approach and interest in the settlement remain unchanged,” Ushakov said.
Trump said the situation is “very alarming” but acknowledged the effectiveness of Israel’s strikes on Iran. The pair did not rule out a return to nuclear talks on Iran’s program.
Putin and Trump also spoke about Ukraine, noting a recent prisoner exchange and peace talks in Istanbul.
“Our president noted that an exchange of prisoners of war is taking place, including seriously wounded and prisoners of war under 25 years of age,” Ushakov said, also noting Putin’s willingness to continue peace talks with Ukraine.
He said Trump noted his “interest in a speedy end to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.”
Trump said Putin called him on Saturday to “wish me a Happy Birthday, but to more importantly, talk about Iran, a country he knows very well.”
“We talked at length. Much less time was spent talking about Russia/Ukraine, but that will be for next week,” Trump said, adding that the call lasted “approximately 1 hour.”
He added, “He feels, as I do, this war in Israel-Iran should end, to which I explained, his war should also end.”
Trump’s last call with Putin was last month in hopes he could then speed up peace talks with Ukraine and to end the war. It appeared to have a minimal effect.
Israel struck Iran on Thursday, taking out several military leaders and nuclear scientists while damaging nuclear facilities. Israel believed Iran was getting closer to obtaining a nuclear bomb, and the American talks with Iran over their nuclear program were still ongoing. Iran has since struck back at Israel and the two countries appear to be in an open conflict.
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Russia and Iran are allies and have more openly traded with each other, especially since Russia’s war on Ukraine began in 2022. The countries also trade military supplies and munitions.
The Center for Naval Analyses noted the countries “share an increasing geopolitical alignment through the use of ‘civilizationist’ and anti-Western rhetoric.”
