Trump, Putin talk of war and peace as US weighs easing Russian oil sanctions
U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed on Monday the war in Iran and prospects for peace in Ukraine, just hours after the Kremlin chief warned that a global energy crisis threatened the world economy.
The Kremlin said Trump called Putin, in the leaders’ first telephone call this year, and they discussed Russian ideas for a speedy end to the “conflict in Iran”, the military situation in Ukraine and the impact of Venezuela on the global oil market, according to Reuters.
“I had a very good call with President Putin,” Trump told a press conference at his Florida golf club, adding that Putin wanted to be helpful on Iran.
“I said, ‘You could be more helpful by getting the Ukraine-Russia war over with. That will be more helpful’.”
The call came within hours of Putin’s remarks that the war on Iran had triggered a global energy crisis, while cautioning that oil production dependent on transport through the Strait of Hormuz could soon come to a halt.
Putin said Russia, the world’s second-largest oil exporter and holder of its biggest natural gas reserves, was ready to work again with European customers if they wanted to return to long-term cooperation.
Meanwhile, Trump’s administration is considering reducing oil sanctions on Russia, three sources familiar with the planning told Reuters.
Talks could cover broad sanctions relief as well as more targeted options for certain countries, such as India, to buy Russian oil without fear of U.S. penalties, including tariffs, the sources said.
“We’re also waiving certain oil-related sanctions to reduce prices. So we have sanctions on some countries. We’re going to take those sanctions off until this straightens out,” Trump told reporters, without identifying the countries.
“Then who knows, maybe we won’t have to put them on; there’ll be so much peace. But when the time comes, the US Navy and its partners will escort tankers through the Strait if needed.”
Last week, the United States allowed India to temporarily buy Russian crude oil already on tankers at sea, to help it cope with the cuts to Middle East supply.
