US President Donald Trump has said he held a “good conversation” with Russian President Vladimir Putin, raising the possibility of a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine amid continuing international pressure to find a path toward de-escalation.
Speaking from the Oval Office while hosting the Artemis II astronauts, Trump described the exchange with Putin as positive and potentially useful. According to the president, the two leaders discussed the idea of a limited ceasefire, which he suggested Moscow could be willing to consider.
Trump did not present the proposal as a final agreement, but indicated that discussions had moved beyond general remarks. He also appeared to question publicly whether Russia had already taken any practical steps toward reducing hostilities.
The conversation also touched on Iran’s nuclear programme. Trump said Putin had offered to play a mediating role on the issue of Iran’s enriched uranium, a long-standing point of tension in international diplomacy. However, Trump said he made clear that his first priority was ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.
From Moscow, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed that Russia had suggested a temporary ceasefire linked symbolically to commemorations marking the end of the Second World War. He described Washington’s response as encouraging, though no formal breakthrough has been announced.
While the Ukraine war remains at the centre of the diplomatic discussion, Trump also used the occasion to highlight US ambitions in space. He said the United States had a realistic chance of sending astronauts back to the Moon before the end of his term in 2029, though he stopped short of making a firm promise.
NASA’s current plans target a lunar landing in 2028, but some experts have warned that the schedule could still face delays.
The Artemis II crew, made up of four astronauts, recently completed a mission around the Moon, a major step in NASA’s wider effort to return humans to the lunar surface.
