Trump and Putin in crisis talks: Middle East and Ukraine in focus!

Trump and Putin in crisis talks: Middle East and Ukraine in focus!

In a recent phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 15, 2025, explosive topics were discussed that affect both the Middle East and the Ukraine conflict. The bone of contention was the dangerous escalation in the Middle East, which both heads of state considered alarming. Loud ZDF today Putin sharply criticized the Israeli air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and geopolitical military targets, and offered himself as a mediator in the difficult situation between Israel and Iran.

The conversation between Trump and Putin, which was quite long at around an hour, was conducted in a cooperative tone. Trump announced that he was congratulated by Putin on his 79th birthday and that the two leaders agreed that the war between Israel and Iran must come to an end. Despite the various global complications, the situation in Ukraine was also discussed. Trump called for an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine, while Russia made significant territorial gains in May 2025 - a step backwards that both presidents could not ignore. CBS News notes that despite the variety of topics discussed by both, the Ukraine war issue took up less time.

A step towards peace?

In the phone call, Putin expressed serious concerns about the possible escalation of the conflict in the Middle East and warned of unforeseeable consequences. Trump called the situation in the region "very alarming" but also acknowledged the effectiveness of Israeli attacks on Iranian targets. Putin also briefed Trump on his talks with the leaders of Iran and Israel, in which he outlined his commitment to solving the Iran nuclear problem. The Kremlin stressed that Russia was ready to move forward with peace talks, and Putin also included the possibility of a prisoner of war exchange, as confirmed by Trump, who sought a quick end to hostilities. The daily news also reported that Trump and Putin recognized the urgency of peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, after Trump had promised in previous talks to end this conflict within 24 hours, but has so far failed to do so.

These conversations are the fifth telephone conversation between the two presidents this year and show that, despite the tense geopolitical situation, there is a will to communicate and possibly also to de-escalate. Putin also reiterated his willingness to continue talks with Ukraine after June 22nd. Whether this will be enough to find a permanent solution remains to be seen.