Putin, in call with Trump, put forward ideas on Iran, Kremlin says

Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump held a phone call on Wednesday in which the Russian leader put forward ideas on resolving the conflict over Iran's nuclear programme, a Kremlin aide said.

Putin also proposed a repeat of a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine to mark the anniversary of the end of World War Two next month, the aide said. Putin announced a similar truce last year which lasted three days but was not agreed with Kyiv.

The phone call was the first publicly announced conversation between the two leaders since March 9, nine days after the US and Israel launched a war with Iran.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov did not say what proposals Putin had made on Iran. Moscow has previously offered to take enriched uranium out of the country.

Ushakov told reporters that Putin had proposed the temporary ceasefire in Ukraine for celebrations on May 9 to mark the Soviet Union's part in the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War Two. He said Trump reacted positively.

Ushakov added that Trump, in a friendly and businesslike conversation lasting over one and a half hours, had said he believed a deal to end the Ukraine war was close.

Trump said he discussed a possible Ukraine ceasefire with Putin.

"We had a good talk, I've known him a long time," said Trump.

Trump, speaking to reporters as he met with astronauts from the Artemis II mission in the Oval Office, said he suggested "a little bit of a ceasefire" in the war in Ukraine in his phone call with the Russian leader.

"And I think he might do that," Trump said, then asked reporters whether Putin had announced a ceasefire.

Trump said Putin offered to help on the issue of Iran's enriched uranium, a key obstacle to a deal to end the Iran war, but "I said I'd much rather have you be involved with ending the war with Ukraine."