Trump and Putin Discuss Ukraine Drone Strikes, Iran During 75-Minute Call

Former President Trump disclosed a 75-minute conversation with President Putin focused on Ukraine’s drone strikes and Iran’s nuclear talks. Trump noted that Putin intends to respond to the strikes while expressing a tentative willingness to engage in discussions about Iran. Despite ongoing criticisms of Russia, Trump’s approach suggests an attempt to broker peace.

In a recent social media post, former President Donald Trump revealed that he had a 75-minute phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The discussion focused on Ukraine’s recent drone strikes on Russian military targets, as well as ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran. Trump characterized the call as productive but tempered his expectations regarding immediate peace. “It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace,” he noted.

Trump shared that during their conversation, Putin expressed his intention to retaliate against Ukraine’s drone strikes that targeted Russian air bases. Trump’s remarks did not include his recent criticisms of Putin, particularly regarding Russia’s drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.

This phone call comes following recent diplomatic talks in Istanbul, which failed to produce significant progress in resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine that has persisted for three years. Trump has been actively seeking to negotiate a peace agreement between the two nations.

Additionally, during the call, Trump informed Putin about his ongoing efforts to reach a nuclear deal with Iran, emphasizing the urgency of limiting Iran’s nuclear ambitions. He relayed to Putin that time is of the essence, stating, “Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.” In response, Trump claimed Putin expressed a willingness to facilitate negotiations regarding Iran.

“President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion,” Trump said, hinting at a potential collaborative effort on this critical issue.

The dialogue between Trump and Putin highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding Ukraine and Iran. While Trump remains optimistic about potential negotiations, the road to peace appears complex and fraught with challenges. The former president’s suggestions of collaboration on Iran negotiations add a layer of intrigue but also underscored the urgency of addressing nuclear proliferation. There is certainly much at stake as diplomatic avenues continue to be explored.

Original Source: www.npr.org