and U.S. President Donald Trump held a 50-minute phone call Saturday to discuss the escalating and , Putin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said.
During the conversation, Putin briefed Trump on his recent talks with the leaders of Iran and Israel and reiterated Russia鈥檚 proposal to seek mutually acceptable solutions on the Iranian nuclear issue.
鈥淭he dangerous escalation of the situation in the Middle East was naturally at the center of the exchange of opinions,鈥� Ushakov told journalists following the conversation between Putin and Trump.
鈥淰ladimir Putin, having condemned the military operation against Iran, expressed serious concern about the possible escalation of the conflict,鈥� he said, warning of 鈥渦npredictable consequences for the entire situation in the Middle East.鈥�
Putin also emphasized Russia鈥檚 readiness to carry out possible mediation efforts, and noted that Russia had proposed steps 鈥渁imed at finding mutually acceptable agreements鈥� during U.S.-Iran negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program.
鈥淩ussia鈥檚 principled approach and interest in the settlement remain unchanged,鈥� Ushakov said.
Trump described the regional situation as 鈥渧ery alarming,鈥� Ushakov said, but acknowledged the 鈥渆ffectiveness鈥� of Israel鈥檚 strikes on targets in Iran.
The leaders did not rule out a possible return to negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program, according to Ushakov.
According to Ushakov, Putin told Trump about the implementation of the agreements during between Russian and Ukrainian delegations, including the exchange of prisoners of war.
鈥淥ur president noted that an exchange of prisoners of war is taking place, including seriously wounded and prisoners of war under 25 years of age,鈥� Ushakov said, along with expressing readiness to continue negotiations with the Ukrainians.
Trump, he said, 鈥渘oted his interest in a speedy end to the .鈥�
Putin also congratulated Trump on his 79th birthday.
The Associated Press
