Trump, Putin discuss ceasefire as Middle East tensions rise
President Donald Trump is highlighting his recent call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
(NBC)- President Donald Trump is highlighting his recent call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying it was a step toward peace. “We talked about a lot of things, and toward getting it to peace,” Trump said in a Fox News interview. Trump described his relationship with Putin as strong, quoting the Russian leader: “Putin actually said to me, if you’re my friend, I’d hate to see you as my enemy.” As a result of the call, Putin agreed to stop attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure for 30 days. The White House called this a first step toward a broader ceasefire, which Ukraine had already accepted.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed efforts to end the war but remained cautious. “We support all steps aimed at the end of the war,” he said, but added that he does not trust Putin. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has set a condition for a full ceasefire: stopping foreign military aid and intelligence support to Ukraine. When asked about this, Trump said, “We didn’t talk about aid. Actually, we didn’t talk about aid at all.”
While talks continue over Ukraine, violence has returned to the Middle East. Israel resumed airstrikes on Hamas targets in Gaza, and the Hamas-run health ministry reports that hundreds have been killed.
Ceasefire negotiations had stalled, with Israel blaming Hamas for rejecting proposals from a Trump administration envoy. “Hamas refused offer after offer to release our hostages,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He also warned that Hamas militants might be rearming. The renewed fighting has left families of hostages in fear, including the relatives of American-Israeli captive Edan Alexander. “Any military action will put remaining hostages in danger. No question about it,” said his father, Adi Alexander. With tensions rising, the Trump administration is standing firmly with Israel, reinforcing its support during the crisis.
