Trump told Putin, ‘Vladimir, you can call me anytime,’ according to senior Kremlin aide
“Vladimir, you can pick up the phone anytime, and I’ll be happy to answer and happy to talk to you,” Donald Trump reportedly told Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Monday, May 19, according to Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov. In recorded comments shared with journalists, Ushakov stated that the two presidents discussed Russia’s war with Ukraine in detail, but not a timeline for a ceasefire, as well as Moscow’s bilateral relations with Washington.
According to Ushakov, Trump said he views Russia as one of America’s most important partners, once the Ukrainian conflict is “resolved to some degree.” He added that the Russian and U.S. presidents plan to organize an in-person meeting, but it must be “well and thoroughly prepared.” No date or location for the meeting has been announced yet.
“I’ll tell you, it’s rare to have conversations of such length, where both presidents — neither of them — wanted to end it, didn’t want, if I can put it this way, to hang up,” Ushakov said.
The May 19 phone call was the third such conversation between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump since Trump’s return to the White House. The previous conversations took place on February 12 and March 18.
Following the call, Trump stated that Russia and Ukraine will “immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War.” Trump said direct Russia–Ukraine talks are necessary “because they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of.”
