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President Donald Trump held a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday to address the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, Russia and Iran are close strategic partners and have significantly strengthened relations following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Iran has been a critical military supplier to Russia, providing hundreds of kamikaze drones used extensively to strike Ukrainian infrastructure. In return, Russia has supplied Iran with advanced air defense systems such as the S-300 and there’s talk that Russia could provide Iran with more advanced S-400 air defense systems. In 2023, Russia and Iran signed a 20-year cooperation agreement that included military-technical collaboration, intelligence sharing, and mutual commitments to resist Western sanctions and influence.
Getting into it: According to the White House and the Kremlin, the call between Trump and Putin lasted approximately 50 minutes and primarily focused on the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned Israel’s preemptive military strikes on Iranian military leaders and nuclear facilities, which took place just before planned nuclear negotiations between Iran and the US. In a statement, a Kremlin aide said Putin “expressed serious concern about the possible escalation of the conflict,” warning of “unpredictable consequences for the entire situation in the Middle East.”
Putin described the regional situation as dangerous and said that Russia was prepared to assist in de-escalation and mediation efforts. Trump reportedly described the situation as “very alarming” and acknowledged “the effectiveness” of Israel’s strikes, but both leaders agreed the conflict “should end,” according to Trump’s post on Truth Social.
Although the primary focus was the Middle East, the Russia-Ukraine war was briefly mentioned. Putin updated Trump on the outcomes of the June 2 Istanbul talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators, particularly the ongoing prisoner exchanges. Trump acknowledged that “large numbers of prisoners are being exchanged, immediately, from both sides,” and added that more detailed discussions on Ukraine would follow “next week.” Putin also reiterated Russia’s readiness to resume negotiations with Ukraine after June 22.
