Kremlin confirms Putin-Trump phone call being prepared for May 19

ISTANBUL

A phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump is currently being prepared, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agency TASS on Saturday.

“The conversation is being prepared,” Peskov said, confirming Trump’s earlier announcement on Truth Social that he would speak with Putin on May 19.

According to Trump, the planned discussion will cover the Ukrainian conflict and trade issues.

He also noted that after the call, he would speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and leaders of NATO member countries.

The last contact between the two leaders occurred on March 18.

Trump’s scheduled conversation with Putin comes shortly after high-level peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul, where both sides agreed to a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange, detailed ceasefire proposals, and continuation of negotiations.

Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who led the delegation in Türkiye, said Moscow was satisfied with the meeting and acknowledged that Ukraine had requested a direct dialogue between the two presidents.

Russia has “taken this request into consideration,” he said.