Washington, 10 March (H.S.):
U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a pivotal one-hour telephone conversation on Monday, marking their first direct talks since December and focusing sharply on the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Iran and the protracted Ukraine conflict.
The Kremlin described the exchange as frank and constructive, with Putin urging a swift political and diplomatic resolution to the Iran crisis, where Iran remains a crucial Russian ally. Yuri Ushakov, Putin's diplomatic advisor, noted that the discussion emphasized bilateral U.S.-Russia negotiations aimed at settling the Ukrainian situation, amid reports of Russian troop advances along the contact line.
Trump initiated the call, seeking to address pressing global issues, including the rapidly evolving Middle East dynamics that erupted on February 28 with coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes under Operations Epic Fury and Roaring Lion. Putin reportedly praised Trump's mediation efforts in Ukraine, where recent talks involving Russian, U.S., and Ukrainian officials have yet to yield a ceasefire, despite incremental progress.
This dialogue follows Trump's August 2025 summit with Putin in Alaska and comes as the Iran war, triggered by heightened tensions over Tehran's nuclear program and domestic crackdowns, shows signs of potential de-escalation. Trump has publicly hinted at an nearing conclusion to operations, aligning with Putin's call for diplomacy over prolonged military engagement.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
