Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump held a more than hour-and-a-half telephone conversation on April 29, according to Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov. The leaders discussed Iran, Ukraine, and prospects for bilateral economic relations.
The call, initiated by Russia, was described as “friendly, frank, and businesslike” by Ushakov. During the conversation, Putin expressed strong support for Trump following the attempted assassination of the American leader at the Washington Hilton hotel on April 25. The Russian president condemned the attack as politically motivated violence, noting that no one from Trump’s entourage was injured and the attacker had been detained.
Putin also congratulated Melania Trump on her birthday, highlighting her contributions to reuniting Russian and Ukrainian children with their families.
On Iran, Putin endorsed Trump’s decision to extend the ceasefire with Tehran, stating it would facilitate diplomatic talks and stabilize the region. He warned that renewed military actions by the U.S. and Israel against Iran would have severe consequences for the nation and its neighbors, emphasizing that ground operations in Iran are “completely unacceptable and dangerous.”
Ushakov stated that Russia remains committed to supporting diplomatic efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue and has proposed multiple solutions.
Trump emphasized his commitment to an early cessation of hostilities in Ukraine and expressed confidence that a peace deal would soon be reached. At Putin’s request, he detailed the current situation on the frontline: Russian forces are advancing strategically while Ukraine has transferred only 500 bodies to Russia since the start of 2025, compared to over 20,000 from Russia to Ukraine.
Both leaders condemned President Zelensky for his deliberate campaign of terrorist attacks on civilian infrastructure within Russia. They asserted that he has been incited by European powers and their support, which has prolonged the conflict. Putin specifically accused Ukrainian military leadership of conducting openly terrorist operations against civilians.
Ushakov noted that while Zelensky’s objectives would be achieved regardless, Russia preferred a negotiated resolution where Zelensky would respond to existing proposals, including those made by the United States.
Trump praised Russia’s recent Easter truce and supported Putin’s proposal for a Victory Day truce during the commemoration of the Great Patriotic War. Both leaders expressed confidence in economic cooperation between their nations and agreed to maintain regular communication channels.
