


President Trump said he and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone Wednesday and discussed Sunday’s bombing of Russia’s docked planes by Ukraine, plus other attacks between the two countries.
Mr. Trump posted on Truth Social that the call was “a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.”
Mr. Trump said they also discussed Iran, and he stressed “that time is running out on Iran’s decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly!”
He added, “I stated to President Putin that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement.”
According to Mr. Trump, the Russian leader suggested he will engage in discussions with Iran and that he could be “helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion.”
“It is my opinion that Iran has been slow-walking their decision on this very important matter, and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time,” Mr. Trump said.
Wednesday’s conversation was the second time President Trump has spoken on the phone with President Putin since May 19.
Mr. Trump has been urging an end to the war in Ukraine, while Russian and Ukraine officials have held direct talks in recent weeks, but the two sides don’t seem close to capping a ceasefire agreement.
Mr. Trump criticized Mr. Putin last week, saying the Russian leader was “playing with fire” with missile strikes on Ukrainian cities and had gone “absolutely CRAZY!”
Ukraine used drones to target the bombers on air bases inside Russian territory in Sunday’s surprise attack.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Tuesday Mr. Trump was not given advance notice of that Ukrainian operation.
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.