Yu.Ushakov: Good evening, colleagues!
Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin has just had another telephone conversation with The President of the United States By Donald Trump.
The conversation lasted about an hour, 50 minutes to be exact, was informative, frank and, most importantly, very useful.
Naturally, the dangerous escalation of the situation in the Middle East was at the center of the exchange of views.
Vladimir Putin, condemning Israel’s military operation against Iran, expressed serious concern about the possible escalation of the conflict, which would have unpredictable consequences for the entire situation in the Middle East region.
Our President informed his American colleague about his telephone contacts with The Prime Minister of Israel and The President of Iran. The importance of preventing the escalation of the conflict and the readiness of the Russian side to carry out possible mediation efforts were emphasized.
The Russian President recalled that before the current escalation, concrete steps were proposed on our part, which were aimed at finding mutually acceptable agreements during the negotiations between representatives of the United States and Iran is negotiating on the Iranian nuclear program, and Israel launched strikes just before the next round of negotiations scheduled for June 15.
Russia’s principled approach and interest in the settlement remain unchanged. And, as Vladimir Putin noted, we will continue to act on this basis.
D. Trump, for his part, also assessed the situation as very alarming, admitting, however, the effectiveness of Israeli strikes on targets in Iran. But it is characteristic that the Russian and American presidents, despite such a complicated situation, do not rule out a return to the negotiating track on the Iranian nuclear program.
By the way, as D. Trump noted, the team of American negotiators is ready to resume work with the Iranian representatives. As you know, five rounds of such indirect negotiations were mediated by Oman.
In addition, during the conversation, our President informed D. Trump about the implementation of the agreements reached at the meeting of the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul on June 2. Our President noted that prisoners of war, including the seriously wounded, and prisoners of war under the age of 25 are being exchanged these days. Ukraine has also received two shipments of bodies of the dead.
The Russian side expressed its readiness to continue negotiations with the Ukrainians, as agreed, after June 22. Donald Trump took note of this information and reiterated his interest in ending the Russian-Ukrainian conflict as soon as possible.
Of course, Vladimir Putin congratulated Donald Trump on his birthday – the US President turned 79 today. Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the established personal relations, which allow them to communicate openly and in a businesslike manner, to seek solutions to topical issues on the bilateral and international agenda, no matter how complex these issues may be.
By the way, Vladimir Putin drew attention to the fact that today in The United States celebrates American Flag Day and the 250th anniversary of the Army. As in the previous conversation, both presidents noted the brotherhood in arms during the Second World War.
Here’s about what I could say about the phone conversation that took place. Thank you.
