Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump recently held a lengthy phone conversation in which they addressed multiple pressing global issues, including the volatile India-Pakistan situation following the Pahalgam terror attack. The call, which lasted approximately 75 minutes, was confirmed by Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov, who noted that the two leaders touched upon the recent India-Pakistan armed conflict and credited Trump’s personal involvement in helping bring about a ceasefire.
The conversation follows heightened tensions between India and Pakistan after the May 3 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 civilian lives. India, blaming Pakistan-based terrorist groups, launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, carrying out precision strikes across the border in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Pakistan responded with retaliatory strikes before both nations announced a ceasefire on May 10.
While Ushakov did not provide specific details about Trump’s role, his remarks suggest that Trump may have engaged diplomatically with both sides to help de-escalate the conflict, especially amid rising fears of a broader confrontation between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
Trump, in his own post on Truth Social, gave a broader rundown of the call with Putin. He revealed that aside from the South Asian crisis, the discussion also covered the Russia-Ukraine war, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and potential international efforts to curb Iran's weapons program.
Regarding Iran, Trump said he told Putin that “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” claiming that both leaders were in agreement on that point. He also noted that Putin expressed willingness to participate in discussions aimed at resolving the issue swiftly.
Trump’s remarks further confirmed that Russia is considering a military response to recent Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian airfields and other strategic sites, which Moscow claims were supported by the West. Putin reportedly warned that he “will have to respond” to the latest Ukrainian assault, though no specific course of action has yet been announced.
The call represents a notable moment of international diplomacy amid increasing global instability—highlighting Trump’s growing engagement with world affairs ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential elections, and Putin’s continued efforts to consolidate Russia’s position on multiple geopolitical fronts.
In the context of South Asia, this rare joint acknowledgment of the India-Pakistan crisis by two global heavyweights may open avenues for international mediation—or at least signal a shared interest in preventing escalation between the long-time adversaries.
