New Delhi: A phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart Donald Trump has brought the Iran conflict and the Ukraine war back into overlapping diplomatic focus, even as both crises remain far from resolution.
According to the Kremlin, the conversation, which lasted over 90 minutes, centred on rising tensions in Iran and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Putin conveyed that Moscow considers the possibility of a US ground operation in Iran to be dangerous, while also noting that Washington’s move to extend a ceasefire in the region was a positive step. The details were shared by his foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, according to theguardian.com.
Despite being an ally of Iran, Russia has remained on the margins of formal diplomacy around the conflict. However, Western intelligence assessments have indicated that Moscow continues to provide support, including intelligence inputs and drone capabilities, in the region.
Trump later described the exchange as constructive, noting that he has known Putin for a long time. He also indicated that the Russian leader had suggested taking custody of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, though he made it clear his priority remains ending the war in Ukraine with Russian involvement.
The US president maintained that a potential agreement to resolve the Ukraine conflict could be within reach. That assessment, however, contrasts with ground realities, where both sides remain divided on key issues. Moscow has continued to insist on territorial concessions in the Donbas region, a position firmly rejected by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, keeping negotiations at a standstill.
Meanwhile, developments in Washington reflected the growing domestic debate over the Iran conflict. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, testifying before the House Armed Services Committee alongside Dan Caine, pushed back against criticism that the conflict was becoming a prolonged entanglement.
He argued that political opposition at home posed a greater challenge than external threats, while seeking approval for a massive increase in defence spending. The Pentagon has estimated that the conflict has already cost the US around USD 25 billion, underscoring the scale of the military engagement.
Together, the diplomatic outreach and domestic debate highlight the complexity of Washington’s position as it navigates simultaneous crises in Iran and Ukraine with limited signs of immediate resolution.
