Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin discussed a possible cease-fire to halt fighting in Russia's 4-year-old, all-out war on Ukraine, as the two presidents spoke in an lengthy phone call, their first since last year.
Trump said that during the 90-minute conversation, the two leaders broached the subject of a possible cease-fire to mark the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
Trump told reporters on April 29 that he suggested "a little bit" of a cease-fire "and I think he [Putin] might do that."
Speaking to reporters in Moscow, Putin's foreign policy adviser, Yury Ushakov, said Putin told Trump he was prepared to have a cease-fire through or around May 9, when Russia marks the defeat of Nazi Germany.
The comments come after Russia's Defense Ministry said the annual Victory Day parade on Red Square -- a Kremlin spectacle celebrating the Soviet role in World War II and Moscow's military today -- would be drastically scaled back this year, with no military vehicles or heavy weaponry on display for the first time in almost two decades.
Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov suggested the main reason for the scaling back was Ukrainian "terrorist activity," clearly a reference to drone attacks Kyiv has launched as it battles against Russia's full-scale invasion.
A cease-fire -- and the elimination of the threat of Ukrainian drones -- could potentially allow the Kremlin to ramp up its military spectacle.
Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, taking territory in the eastern part of its neighbor. The fighting on the ground has ground to a virtual stalemate in recent months.
Over the past year, however, Ukraine has stepped up its drone campaign, targeting Russian energy infrastructure, air force bases, and other targets. Moscow has scrambled to keep up in shooting down the drones.
Trump said he and Putin also spoke about the US war with Iran, with Trump saying he told Putin that “before you help me [with Iran], I want to end your war.”
Asked by a reporter which war -- the one in Ukraine or Iran -- will be over first, Trump said they may be on the same “schedule.”
