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Putin and Trump held an hour-long phone call on Monday centered on the war in Iran and the stalled conflict in Ukraine, the Kremlin announced, marking the first known direct conversation between the two leaders since reports emerged that Moscow has been providing targeting intelligence to Tehran against American military assets.
The conversation was "businesslike, constructive, and frank," according to the Russian readout, which was released before any corresponding statement from the White House. Putin used the call to present proposals for a swift diplomatic resolution to the conflict in Iran, where the United States and Israel have been conducting sustained military operations since launching coordinated strikes on Feb. 28. Trump, for his part, reiterated his interest in a rapid ceasefire and a long-term settlement in Ukraine, according to the Kremlin's account.
The two leaders also discussed Venezuela, among other topics, and expressed their readiness for continued regular communication, Moscow said.
The roughly one-hour conversation took place against a backdrop of deepening tensions between Washington and Moscow. Late last week, U.S. officials confirmed that Russia has been sharing intelligence with Iran that could help Tehran locate and strike American warships, aircraft, and other assets in the Persian Gulf region, a disclosure first reported by the Washington Post.
The White House played down the significance of the reports. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Friday that the intelligence sharing was "not making any difference with respect to the military operations in Iran," adding that U.S. forces are "completely decimating them." But she declined to say whether Trump had raised the matter with Putin or whether Washington would pursue repercussions.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, when asked whether Russia had provided military or intelligence assistance to Iran, refused to comment directly, saying only that Moscow is "in dialogue with the Iranian side" and would "certainly continue this dialogue."
The revelation that a country with which Trump has sought warmer relations is actively aiding an adversary the U.S. is bombing has rattled Washington. Republican Congressman Don Bacon of Nebraska said the reports should not surprise anyone, given the deep alignment between Moscow and Tehran, and called for the U.S. to send long-range precision weapons and upgraded fighter jets to Ukraine in response.
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