Amidst the oil crisis, Trump called Putin, discussed these issues, signs of relaxation on sanctions

Moscow. US President Donald Trump spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on phone late Monday night. The talks took place at a time when the US-Israeli attacks on Iran have caused global energy disruption and the Strait of Hormuz is almost closed. According to Kremlin (Russian Presidential Office) foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov, the two leaders discussed the ongoing war between the US and Iran and between Russia and Ukraine during an hour-long telephone conversation.

“The discussion focused on the ongoing trilateral talks between Moscow, Washington and Kiev aimed at resolving the Iran conflict and the Ukraine conflict,” Ushakov said. The dialogue between the two presidents was practical and constructive.” He said President Putin also shared his views on the ongoing conflict in Iran and informed Trump about his conversation last week with the leaders of the Gulf countries and Iranian President Massoud Pezheshkian. “Trump also expressed his opinion on this situation,” Ushakov said.

They had a very productive discussion on this issue.” Trump called Putin just hours after the Russian President called a top meeting of energy officials and announced that Moscow is a reliable partner for its friendly countries (India and China) and that Russia is ready to resume supplies on a long-term basis if the EU is willing to lift sanctions. Putin warned that the ongoing conflict in West Asia risks seriously disrupting global oil and gas flows, especially with the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital sea route.

According to local media reports, Washington may lift some sanctions on Russian hydrocarbons to handle the situation, as consumers in the US and Europe are already bearing the brunt. Citing the 30-day exemption given by Washington to India to buy oil through Russian sea route, leading newspaper ‘Kommersant Daily’ on Tuesday said that India can double its oil purchases from Russia. “After the US granted licenses to Indian refineries to buy crude oil shipped via tankers, Russia could almost double its oil supplies to India,” the newspaper quoted analysts as saying.