WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump said on April 29 he discussed a possible ceasefire in the four-year war in Ukraine in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He spoke after the Kremlin reported the two leaders discussed a temporary Ukraine ceasefire to mark the anniversary of the end of World War Two in May.
“We had a good talk, I’ve known him a long time,” said Mr Trump. The two leaders had their last publicly reported phone call on March 9, although Mr Trump has indicated they speak regularly.
Mr Trump, speaking to reporters as he met with astronauts from the Artemis II mission in the Oval Office, said he suggested “a little bit of a ceasefire” in the war in Ukraine in his phone call with the Russian leader.
“And I think he might do that,” Mr Trump said, then asked reporters whether Mr Putin had already announced a ceasefire.
Mr Putin announced a similar truce in 2025 that lasted three days but was not agreed with Kyiv.
Mr Trump has a history of making positive comments about Mr Putin and sharply criticising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for not agreeing to make a deal with Russia to end the war.
Mr Trump said Mr Putin offered to help on the issue of Iran’s enriched uranium, a key obstacle to a deal to end the Iran war, but “I said I’d much rather have you be involved with ending the war with Ukraine.”
“I said, before you help me, I want to end your war,” said Mr Trump.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov did not say what proposals Mr Putin had made on Iran. Moscow has previously offered to take enriched uranium out of the country.
Mr Ushakov told reporters Mr Putin had proposed the temporary ceasefire in Ukraine for celebrations on May 9 to mark the Soviet Union’s part in the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War Two. He said Mr Trump reacted positively.
Mr Ushakov added that Mr Trump, in a friendly and businesslike conversation lasting over 1½ hours, had said he believed a deal to end the Ukraine war was close. REUTERS
