Washington — President Trump said Wednesday that he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone for over an hour, and Putin told him that he plans to respond to Ukraine’s drone strike on Russian air bases.
Mr. Trump announced the call and details of the conversation on his social media platform Truth Social before the post appeared to be gone from his page.
Ukraine on Sunday launched a drone attack deep into Russian territory that security officials said destroyed about 40 military bombers. Mr. Trump also said Putin suggested he will participate in negotiations with Iran over their nuclear capabilities, as the U.S. works to keep nuclear weapons out of Iranian hands. Ceasefire talks between Ukraine and Russia have stalled, and Mr. Trump has expressed frustration with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“I just finished speaking, by telephone, with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia,” Mr. Trump wrote. “The call lasted approximately one hour and 15 minutes. We discussed the attack on Russia’s docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides. It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.”
“We also discussed Iran, and the fact that time is running out on Iran’s decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly!” Mr. Trump continued. “I stated to President Putin that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement. President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion.”
Mr. Trump’s last known phone call with Putin was in May, and lasted two hours.