Russian President Vladimir Putin held a 50-minute phone conversation on Saturday with U.S. President Donald Trump, condemning Israel’s military operation against Iran and expressing concern about the risk of escalation, the Kremlin stated.
“Vladimir Putin condemned Israel’s military operation against Iran and expressed serious concern about the possible escalation of the conflict, which would have unpredictable consequences for the entire situation in the Middle East,” Putin’s advisor, Yuri Ushakov, told reporters, as reported by Reuters.
Trump, for his part, described the events in the Middle East as “very alarming,” according to Ushakov. However, both leaders said they do not rule out a return to negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program, Ushakov noted.
The Kremlin announced that Trump told Putin that American negotiators are ready to continue talks with Iranian representatives.
Regarding Ukraine, Putin told the U.S. leader that Russia is ready to continue negotiations with the Ukrainians after June 22, according to the state news agency RIA. Trump reiterated his interest in a quick resolution of the conflict, Ushakov said.
Putin also wished Trump a happy 79th birthday.
