Commentary by Presidential Assistant Yuri Ushakov on the telephone conversation between Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump

Commentary by Presidential Assistant Yuri Ushakov on the telephone conversation between Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia has released a commentary by the Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, Yuri Ushakov, detailing the key points of the telephone conversation held today between President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump.

Congratulations and Bilateral Relations

Russian President V.V. Putin called US President Donald Trump today to congratulate him on his 80th birthday. The conversation, described as friendly and frank, lasted exactly 55 minutes. Moving beyond standard diplomatic protocol, the leaders discussed key international issues, the development of bilateral relations, and potential future contacts between representatives of both sides.

The informal tone of the congratulations reflected the personal nature of the relationship between the two leaders. President Putin expressed his respect for Trump’s fighting qualities, his resilience, his ability to take a punch, successfully overcome obstacles, and persistently achieve his goals.

Additionally, the Russian President sent an official congratulatory message (available at kremlin.ru), highlighting the birthday celebrant's strong-willed characteristics that contribute to his success as a person and a politician. President Trump was touched by these words and expressed his gratitude, noting that Vladimir Putin was the first among all foreign leaders to call him at the White House.

Regarding humanitarian gestures and reciprocity:

President Putin extended his best wishes to First Lady Melania Trump, praising her role in the efforts to reunite Russian and Ukrainian children with their families. Donald Trump, in turn, conveyed greetings from his wife and gratitude for the assistance provided by the Russian side.

The Russian leader also thanked Trump for his warm congratulatory message on Russia Day, in which the US President expressed his deep respect for the Russian people.

The US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding

During the call, Donald Trump stated that the deal regarding the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran is finalized, and he expects the results to be published today.

The US President admitted that there had been numerous obstacles, including from sources outside the Iranian leadership. However, he noted that the efforts of American negotiators, aided by Pakistani and Qatari mediators, ultimately yielded an acceptable outcome. Trump expressed his appreciation for Russia's involvement and, in particular, for the proposals made to find constructive solutions.

For its part, the Russian side expressed satisfaction that a conflict capable of engulfing the entire region and beyond has seemingly been averted. Russia reaffirmed its readiness to continue working toward stabilizing the environment and resolving the deeper, fundamental issues that still require serious attention.

The Ukrainian Conflict and Regional Security

President Donald Trump once again emphasized the urgent need to end military activities in Ukraine. He stated his readiness to influence both European partners and Kyiv, including during upcoming contacts at the G7 Summit. It was noted that recent attacks on civilian targets within Russian territory clearly obstruct a settlement. Trump also stated that if the war is concluded as quickly as possible, prospects for establishing a truly new quality in US-Russian relations will open up.

In turn, President V.V. Putin maintained that no attempts by the Kyiv regime to strike peaceful infrastructure in Russia would alter Ukraine's critical situation on the battlefield. The Russian leader warned that the Europeans and Zelensky will undoubtedly attempt to distort the reality, offering ideas aimed solely at prolonging the conflict and continuing military actions.

"It would be worth telling Zelensky directly not to forget the tragedy of the Holocaust, instead of honoring the reburial of Nazi criminals. If the head of the Kyiv regime intends to take steps regarding a potential meeting with the Russian leader, as was previously stated, and if he wants a meeting—let him come to Moscow."

 — Yuri Ushakov, quoting the Kremlin's position.

 

In a nod to historical memory, Donald Trump spoke about the alliance between the two countries during the years of World War II, emphasizing that this legacy simply cannot be forgotten.

Next Steps and Cooperation

In closing, President Putin wished the American organizers of the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup the best of luck.

It was agreed that the Special Representatives of the US President, Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner, will travel to Russia again in the near future to continue bilateral discussions.

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