Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held a phone call on Wednesday lasting over 90 minutes, during which they discussed the war in Iran and floated a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine. According to Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign policy adviser, the Russian leader expressed concern over the prospect of a US ground operation in Iran, calling it dangerous, while welcoming Trump's decision to extend a ceasefire in the region.
Russia has largely been sidelined in diplomatic efforts regarding the Iran war, despite being an ally of the Kremlin. Western intelligence agencies have reported that Moscow continues to provide support to Iran, including intelligence and drones used to strike US targets in the area.
Trump later described the conversation as "very good," noting that he has known Putin for a long time. The US president stated that Putin offered assistance in transporting Iran's buried uranium to Russia, but Trump expressed a preference for the Russian leader to focus on "ending the war in Ukraine."
Ukraine Ceasefire Proposal
Trump reiterated his belief that a deal to end the Ukraine conflict is close, despite significant differences remaining between the two sides. Putin has signaled his readiness to continue fighting until Ukraine cedes territory currently under Russian control in the Donbas, among other demands. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has consistently rejected such concessions, leaving the region a central faultline in stalled peace efforts.
During the call, Putin informed Trump that Russian forces retain the initiative and are pushing back Ukrainian positions. However, military analysts and open-source information indicate that neither side appears close to a breakthrough. Russia's advances have slowed in recent months, with both armies showing signs of exhaustion and sustaining heavy casualties, while continuing to target each other's energy infrastructure.
Victory Day Parade Scaled Back
Earlier on Wednesday, the Kremlin announced it would scale back this year's Victory Day parade due to the threat of Ukrainian drone strikes. For the first time in nearly two decades, no military hardware will be displayed. Ushakov said Putin expressed readiness to announce a temporary ceasefire proposed by Trump to coincide with the Victory Day celebrations.
Ukraine has remained skeptical of short-term ceasefire proposals from Moscow, including one briefly implemented over Easter, accusing Russia of using such pauses to regroup and prepare further attacks. Ukrainian long-range drones continue to strike Russian territory almost daily, targeting industrial and military sites, including oil infrastructure and logistics hubs, often causing large fires and civilian evacuations.
At one point, Trump told reporters that Ukraine's military had been defeated, claiming the country had lost all its ships and planes. It appeared he was confusing Ukraine with Iran, as he has previously used similar language when claiming success for the US operation against Iran.
