U.S. president Donald Trump said he held a “very good call” with Russian president Vladimir Putin on Monday, March 9th. The the two leaders discussed the war in Ukraine and the conflict in Iran.
Speaking to reporters at his Florida golf club, Trump said the conversation touched on the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. He described the relationship between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as deeply strained.
“There’s tremendous hatred between President Putin and President Zelenskyy. They can’t seem to get it together,” Trump said.
Trump also said Putin had expressed interest in helping address the conflict involving Iran. According to the U.S. president, he told the Russian leader that ending the war between Russia and Ukraine would be a more effective way to contribute to stability.
“I said, ‘You could be more helpful by getting the Ukraine-Russia war over with. That will be more helpful,’” Trump told reporters.
The Kremlin later confirmed that the two leaders discussed possible diplomatic approaches to resolving the conflict in Iran. Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov described the call as “very substantial” and said it could have practical significance for future cooperation between the two countries.
The conversation marked the first telephone call between Trump and Putin this year. According to sources familiar with the discussions, the Trump administration is also considering easing certain sanctions on Russian oil in an effort to stabilize global energy supplies.
