U.S. President Donald Trump admitted on Thursday that his hour-long call with Russian President Vladimir Putin yielded "no progress" on two of the world's hottest flashpoints: Iran and Ukraine.
Despite a "pretty long call" covering a wide range of topics, from Middle East tensions to the ongoing war in Eastern Europe, Trump told reporters the discussion fell short of breakthroughs. "No, I didn't make any progress with him today at all," he said. "I'm not happy about that."
Putin's Position
According to Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov, Putin used the call to reiterate Moscow's resolve. "Russia will achieve its goals, namely to eliminate the well-known root causes that led to the current harsh confrontation," Ushakov said. He added that the Kremlin is ready for a third round of talks with Ukraine, although specifics remain under wraps.
Talks on Tap?
- Duration: Roughly one hour of back-and-forth dialogue.
- Topics: Iran tensions, Ukraine conflict, and even potential U.S.-Russia economic projects in energy and space.
- Next Steps: Both leaders confirmed interest in joint ventures but left details for later discussions.
As global eyes watch for any shift in the standoff over Ukraine and simmering Middle East tensions, this call underscores how high-stakes diplomacy often meets uphill odds. With both leaders acknowledging the need for dialogue—but not yet finding a breakthrough—what unfolds next could hinge on fresh pressure points or unexpected concessions from either side.
Reference(s):
Trump says no progress on Iran, Ukraine in phone call with Putin
cgtn.com
