Trump reveals Putin called him to wish a happy birthday as president says he pushed Russian leader to end war with Ukraine

By NIKKI SCHWAB, CHIEF CAMPAIGN CORRESPONDENT FOR DAILYMAIL.COM IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

Published: 20:26 BST, 14 June 2025 | Updated: 21:13 BST, 14 June 2025

President Donald Trump revealed Saturday afternoon that Russian President Vladimir Putin called him to wish him a ‘happy birthday’ as the president turns 79. 

‘President Putin called this morning to very nicely wish me a Happy Birthday, but to more importantly, talk about Iran, a country he knows very well,’ the president posted to Truth Social.

Israel and Iran have been trading attacks since overnight Thursday, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tries to disintegrate Tehran’s nuclear program. 

Putin said Friday that he would gladly mediate a truce between Israel and Iran – despite invading neighboring Ukraine in February of 2022. 

‘Much less time was spent talking about Russia/Ukraine, but that will be for next week,’ Trump continued. ‘He is doing the planned prisoner swaps – large numbers of prisoners are being exchanged, immediately, from both sides.’  

 Trump said the call lasted for approximately an hour, noting ‘we talked at length.’ 

‘He feels, as do I, this war in Israel-Iran should end, to which I explained, his war should also end,’ the president said. 

During the 2024 campaign, Trump pledged not to drag the United States into a ‘World War III’ while pushing that he could get deals done to bring peace to the Midde East and end the Ukraine war. 

President Donald Trump (left) said Saturday that he had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) on the phone for about an hour that morning. Trump is celebrating his 79th birthday and will attend a military parade Saturday evening

President Donald Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to talk about Iran – he said that he pushed Putin to end ‘his war’ as well 

But so far, big peace deals have eluded the White House. 

Prior to Israel’s attack on Iran, the United States was in the midst of negotiation a nuclear deal with Tehran. 

In May 2018, Trump pulled out of the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

But then decided at the advent of his second term that he wanted to negotiate a new deal on his terms. 

However, Israel’s attack stalled that. 

A planned meeting between the U.S. and the Iranians that was supposed to take place Sunday in Muscat, Oman has been canceled.  

Trump told Putin on the call that envoy Steve Witkoff is ready to resume talks with the Iranians, Russia’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said. 

The president has also tried to push Putin to get to the negotiating table to end the war in Ukraine. 

A demonstrator outside the White House on Saturday held up a sign showing Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and President Donald Trump (right) smooching. The sign was labeled ‘Russian Puppet’

A plan for leader-level talks between the Russians and Ukrainians in Turkey fell apart last month, with Putin refusing to show up. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did make the trip, but instead met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 

At the same time, Russia has ramped up its attacks on Ukraine – with the war’s end seemingly nowhere in sight. 

The president spent the morning at the White House but will then make the short trip to where the Ellipse meets Constitution Avenue to take in a long-wanted military parade. 

Saturday’s march is to mark the Army’s 250th birthday and kicks off more than a year’s worth of events celebrating the country’s semiquincentennial, which will take place on July 4, 2026. 

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Trump reveals Putin called him to wish a happy birthday as president says he pushed Russian leader to end war with Ukraine

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