Sun Jun 15 02:07:26 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

On June 15, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump held a lengthy phone call to discuss escalating tensions in the Middle East between Israel and Iran, as well as the ongoing war in Ukraine. Putin briefed Trump on his talks with Iranian and Israeli leaders, expressing concern about the potential for wider conflict and offering Russia’s mediation. Trump acknowledged the effectiveness of Israeli strikes while urging Putin to end the war in Ukraine. The leaders also discussed the exchange of prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine. Planned negotiations with Iran in Oman, aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear program, have been postponed.

**News Article:**

**Putin and Trump Discuss Middle East Tensions, Ukraine War in Lengthy Call**

**Moscow – June 15, 2025** – Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump engaged in an hour-long phone call on Saturday, focusing on the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran and the ongoing war in Ukraine. The conversation comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following Israeli strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear program and subsequent retaliatory actions from Iran.

President Trump, in a Truth Social post, confirmed the call, stating that he pressed Putin to end the war in Ukraine. “He feels, as do I, this war in Israel-Iran should end, to which I explained, his war should also end,” Trump wrote.

According to Putin’s foreign affairs advisor, Yuri Ushakov, the Russian President briefed Trump on recent discussions with Iranian and Israeli leaders, reiterating Russia’s offer to mediate a solution on the Iranian nuclear issue. Putin expressed “serious concern” about the potential escalation of the conflict and its “unpredictable consequences” for the Middle East.

Ushakov noted Trump acknowledged the effectiveness of Israel’s strikes while describing the regional situation as “very alarming.” The leaders also discussed the possibility of resuming negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program, though planned talks in Oman have been postponed.

The two presidents addressed the exchange of prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine, facilitated by recent talks in Istanbul. Ushakov stated that both sides were exchanging prisoners, including seriously wounded individuals and those under 25 years old, and expressed Russia’s readiness to continue negotiations with Ukraine.

The call highlights the ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions in both the Middle East and Eastern Europe, with Russia positioning itself as a potential mediator in the Israeli-Iranian conflict. The relationship between Russia and Iran has deepened since the start of the war in Ukraine, with Tehran providing Moscow with various forms of support.

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