President Trump disclosed on Wednesday that he pressed Russian President Vladimir Putin for a ceasefire in Ukraine during a phone conversation, while also addressing the ongoing U.S. military campaign against Iran. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office after welcoming the Artemis II crew, Trump said Putin proposed Russian assistance with 'enrichment'—likely referring to a plan to remove roughly 1,000 pounds of enriched uranium from Iran, the material needed for a nuclear weapon.
Russia has been in talks with Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, about the possibility of extracting Iran's highly enriched uranium. Trump characterized Putin's offer as conditional: 'He'd like to be of help, but I said before you help, we want to end your war.' The president framed the discussion as part of a broader effort to resolve both conflicts, suggesting the wars in Ukraine and Iran are on similar trajectories toward conclusion.
Trump specifically asked Putin for 'a little bit of a ceasefire' in Ukraine. According to Yury Ushakov, a Kremlin aide, Putin proposed a truce coinciding with Russia's May 9 Victory Day celebrations, which mark the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945. This follows a failed 32-hour ceasefire during Orthodox Easter in April, which both Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of violating.
Ukrainian officials responded cautiously, with a representative from President Volodymyr Zelensky's office stating that details of the discussion must be clarified before Kyiv can formulate a response. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, and Putin has consistently demanded territorial concessions as a condition for ending the war, including recognition of occupied regions.
Separately, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump is signaling an intent to maintain the U.S. naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz against Iran. The blockade has prevented Iranian oil tankers and commercial vessels from exiting the strait, while Iran has retaliated by threatening attacks on ships that do not coordinate with its military. Trump framed the standoff in stark terms: 'They have to cry uncle, that's all they have to do. Just say, We give up.' He added that Iran's economy is in deep trouble.
The timing of these diplomatic maneuvers is politically charged. With midterm elections approaching and GOP majorities in both chambers at risk, rising gas prices are intensifying pressure on Trump to show progress on ending the war. The president has also met with oil executives to weigh extending the Iran blockade as fuel costs hit $4.23 a gallon, a move that could further strain household budgets.
In the Oval Office, Trump hosted the Artemis II crew amid ongoing tensions over NASA's budget, highlighting the contrast between space exploration ambitions and the grinding realities of two foreign wars. The president's remarks underscored his administration's dual-track approach: seeking a diplomatic off-ramp in Ukraine while tightening the screws on Iran, even as domestic political headwinds mount.
