Trump-Putin phone name: US President says he & Vladimir agreed Israel-Iran conflict ‘ought to finish’; Putin pushes for post-June 22 Ukraine talks

US President Donald Trump mentioned Saturday that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed throughout a phone name that the continuing conflict between Israel and Iran “should end.” The hour-long name, which Trump mentioned was initiated by Putin to want him a “very nice” 79th birthday greeting, additionally touched on Russia’s warfare in Ukraine and up to date prisoner exchanges.“President Putin called this morning to very nicely wish me a Happy Birthday, but to more importantly, talk about Iran, a country he knows very well,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. “He feels, as do I, this war in Israel-Iran should end, to which I explained, his war should also end.”The US President added that little time was spent discussing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine however mentioned, “that will be for next week.” He confirmed that “large numbers of prisoners are being exchanged, immediately, from both sides,” referencing the continuing Ukraine-Russia prisoner swaps.Trump’s feedback come amid rising international concern over the widening conflict between Iran and Israel, with fears of additional destabilisation throughout the Middle East. On Friday, Israel launched a large-scale strike on Iranian territory, prompting condemnation from Moscow and unease in Kyiv, which fears a shift in US navy focus away from Ukraine.

Putin proposes new peace talks with Kyiv after June 22

The Kremlin’s readout of the decision centered extra on Ukraine than on Iran, stating that Putin informed Trump Russia is ready to carry a brand new spherical of peace negotiations with Ukraine after June 22, as soon as ongoing prisoner and physique exchanges are accomplished. It was their fifth name since Trump returned to the White House, a part of his broader efforts to reset relations with Moscow and depart from the method of his predecessor, Joe Biden.(*22*)“Both leaders expressed satisfaction with their personal relations,” the Kremlin mentioned, including that they “communicate in a businesslike manner and seek solutions to pressing issues on the bilateral and international agenda, no matter how complex these issues may be.”Russian officers additionally highlighted progress in implementing the Istanbul agreements, which facilitated current exchanges of wounded prisoners and the our bodies of fallen troopers. On Saturday, Ukraine and Russia carried out their fourth such change in per week, with Ukraine recovering one other 1,200 our bodies of people Moscow claimed had been “Ukrainian citizens, including military personnel.”Videos launched by either side confirmed returning prisoners draped in nationwide flags, some visibly injured, being welcomed with embraces, calls to members of the family, and chants of nationwide slogans.

Kyiv urges US to keep up assist amid Israel-Iran escalation

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky didn’t affirm whether or not Ukraine would comply with take part in renewed talks with Russia, solely saying: “The exchanges will be completed and the parties will discuss the next step.”Zelensky warned that rising tensions within the Middle East risked shifting American consideration — and sources — away from Ukraine’s warfare effort. “We would like to see aid to Ukraine not decrease because of this,” he mentioned, recalling the same slowdown in help final time tensions flared within the area.He additionally criticised what he described as an excessively conciliatory tone between Washington and Moscow. “Any signals of reduced aid, or of treating Ukraine and Russia as equals, are deeply unfair. Russia is the aggressor. They started this war. They do not want to end it,” Zelensky mentioned on X (previously Twitter).

Russian troops intensify operations in Sumy

Meanwhile, preventing continues to rage throughout Ukraine’s northeastern entrance. Zelensky reported that Ukrainian forces had efficiently pushed again Russian advances within the Sumy area, regaining management of not less than one village.Russia has been looking for to create a “buffer zone” alongside its border with Ukraine by intensifying navy operations in Sumy to protect the adjoining Kursk area. Moscow beforehand claimed positive aspects in Dnipropetrovsk, however Zelensky dismissed these claims.Ukrainian officers estimate that 53,000 Russian troops had been deployed within the Sumy offensive. The ongoing assault varieties a part of a broader three-year marketing campaign that has devastated Ukrainian infrastructure, displaced thousands and thousands, and claimed tens of 1000’s of lives.

Allies uneasy over Trump’s posture towards Moscow

Trump’s continued pivot in the direction of hotter ties with Moscow has triggered alarm amongst US allies, particularly in Europe, who worry a possible rollback of US monetary, navy, and intelligence help for Kyiv.In earlier weeks, the Biden administration had maintained a agency stance towards Russia’s actions, however Trump’s method has created uncertainty over future US international coverage. European companions are reportedly scrambling to evaluate how they could fill any assist hole ought to the US scale back help.As geopolitical flashpoints widen from Eastern Europe to the Middle East, strain is mounting on international leaders to keep up a coordinated response.