Trump reportedly tells Putin he is prepared to help end war in Ukraine

Donald Trump told Vladimir Putin that ending Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine was critical and that he was prepared to help, reported Russia’s TASS news agency.

During a phone call on Sunday, Trump also informed the Russian president that the US is nearing a peace deal with Iran as the US-Israel war against the country continues, according to Yuri Ushakov, a Putin adviser. The call between Trump and Putin, which lasted about an hour, was described as “friendly and frank” by Ushakov.

Fighting between Russia and Ukraine has continued for more than four years since Russia launched an invasion into Ukraine in February 2022. The war has now lasted longer than the first world war, which continued for 1,566 days. Peace negotiations have largely been on pause, but Trump officials have recently stated that they want the war in Ukraine to end “as quickly as possible”, according to one senior official who briefed reporters during the G7 summit last week.

During the call, Putin also wished Trump a happy 80th birthday in an “informal” manner, Ushakov said. Trump previously announced plans to celebrate his birthday, which is on Sunday, with a cage match on the White House South Lawn. The $60m “UFC Freedom 250” event will feature a 92ft steel structure, which some have likened to a colosseum, and host seven fighting bouts.