The leaders of Russia and the United States held a 90-minute telephone conversation today, initiated by the Russian side, to discuss a wide range of international issues including assessments of Zelenskyy’s strategy.
Strategic Dialogue on Global Conflicts
The primary focus of the negotiations was the armed conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. Regarding the Middle East, Vladimir Putin advocated for a peaceful settlement and offered Russia’s diplomatic assistance in resolving the crisis. He also presented several proposals concerning the Iranian nuclear program; however, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, who briefed the press on the call, declined to provide specific details on these points.
On the Ukraine conflict, Donald Trump reiterated his readiness to serve as a mediator and facilitate a swift resolution. The U.S. President expressed confidence that “a deal to end the conflict in Ukraine is already close.”
Convergent Views on Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Notably, both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin expressed similar assessments of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s conduct. According to the briefing, both leaders criticized the Ukrainian president for “pursuing a policy of prolonging the conflict, encouraged and supported by Europeans.”
Donald Trump spoke positively of the recent Easter truce initiated by Russia. In response, Vladimir Putin pledged to launch a similar humanitarian initiative on the eve of Victory Day on May 9.
