Media: Ukraine tops agenda in Putin-Trump key phone call 90 minutes of diplomacy

In a recent article, The Spectator unveils that Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump touched on key global issues, with Ukraine at the forefront in a highly anticipated phone call this week. 

The call, which lasted 90 minutes, didn’t reveal much beyond tentative steps toward a ceasefire, a possible prisoner swap, and other smaller agreements. 

However, Putin seems to understand that Trump is looking for much more than a resolution in Ukraine—he’s aiming for a monumental deal that could reshape the Middle East, solidifying his legacy as a peace broker. In a move that raised eyebrows, Trump sent Steve Witkoff, his special envoy to the Middle East, to Moscow last week ahead of the call. While discussions focused on the war in Ukraine, new hostilities erupted between Israel and Hamas, and Trump ordered a bombing campaign targeting Iran-backed forces in Yemen. These simultaneous events highlighted the complex geopolitics at play, with the Middle East now at the heart of global strategic maneuvers.

The conflict in Ukraine is seen by some as just one piece of the larger puzzle. As peace talks resume in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia is emerging as a powerful force, surpassing traditional powers like Britain, France, and the EU in influence. While British Labour leader Keir Starmer takes credit for persuading Ukraine to consider Trump’s initial ceasefire proposal, it was Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who made a major impact by offering Ukraine a multi-billion-dollar investment deal. Putin and Trump’s discussion on Ukraine and its broader implications also saw a shared focus on Iran. According to the White House readout, both leaders agreed that “Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel,” with Putin promising to intensify pressure on Tehran and hinder its nuclear weapons development. 

Over the past decade, Putin has waged a "maximum pressure" campaign against Ukraine, culminating in the ongoing war. Trump, along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Witkoff, is working on a similar strategy with Iran. The goal is to isolate Iran, bankrupt the regime, empower Israel, and strengthen ties with Arab states. Following his call with Putin, Trump "warmly welcomed" UAE National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan to the White House, where discussions centered on strengthening ties with the Arab world. This shift in global power dynamics is clear—Trump’s strategy is to engage in what some have termed the “Concert of Arabia.” America, Russia, China, and Turkey are all vying for influence in the Middle East, particularly over a weakened Iran, an increasingly empowered Arab League, and a growing Israel. 

Meanwhile, India’s role in Trump’s vision for the future is becoming clearer, as evidenced by his intelligence director, Tulsi Gabbard, engaging in talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about deepening US-India relations. While Europe and Britain struggle to maintain influence, with Macron and Starmer pushing for a military coalition, Trump remains focused on his broader geopolitical goals. Both the Kremlin and Trump’s inner circle view European efforts to prolong the war in Ukraine as counterproductive, with Trump preferring a path toward global peace. Though Macron and Starmer may hope to provoke Trump’s pride into taking a more aggressive stance against Russia, Trump is unlikely to be swayed. Any fallout with Putin would likely be a public spectacle, adding to the reality TV drama of his presidency.

By Naila Huseynova