Putin’s birthday gift snub to Donald Trump as pair have bromance phone call instead

Russia’s despotic President Vladimir Putin had a lovely phone call with US President Donald Trump to wish the latter a happy birthday . . . and talk about war, obviously

Donald Trump had a rather interesting birthday phone call from Russian President Vladimir Putin – the despot’s own media mouthpiece has claimed. The US President turned 80 yesterday, and celebrated with a UFC event in his garden, the framework of a peace deal with Iran . . . and a chat on the phone with Putin.

And while the pair’s call was full of “laughs” and lovely sentiments, the Kremlin has confirmed that Putin decided not to send a gift to Trump for the celebrations.

The official statement from Yury Ushakov, Putin’s Presidential Aide, said: “No gifts were sent but, as I have already said, the greetings were quite warm and reflective of the relations between the two presidents.”

During the call, the pair obviously talked about Trump’s birthday for around 55 minutes – but the Aide confirms that it was “not merely an exchange of pleasantries”.

Ushakov said, in what appears to be a Q&A press release with himself answering his own questions: “President Trump heard more than kind words and good wishes: the leaders also discussed key issues relating to the current international situation, the development of Russia-US relations, and possible future contacts between representatives of both sides.

“I would like to emphasise again that the conversation was informal and, I might add, not without a touch of humour. I will even let you in on a secret: Donald Trump is not entirely thrilled by the number 80, as he is full of energy and vigour.”

The pair then discussed the new agreed framework of an Iran deal, with Trump seemingly thanking Putin for his “involvement”, before the call turned to the never-ending war in Ukraine.

Ushakov said: “Vladimir Putin communicated the message that no attempts by the Kiev regime to strike Russia ’s civilian infrastructure can overturn the situation on the battlefield, which is critical for Ukraine. There is no doubt that in Évian-les-Bains (the site of the G7 meeting this week), the Europeans and Zelensky will try to paint the exact opposite picture and will only be able to propose ideas that drag out the conflict and prolong the hostilities.

“Zelensky himself should be told that, instead of reburying Nazi criminals with honours, he’d better remember the tragedy of the Holocaust. Should the chief of the Kiev regime mention a potential meeting with the Russian leader again, as we said in the past, he is free to come to Moscow if he wants a meeting.”

Trump responded by stating that Russia and the US have been allies since World War 2, and that “must not be forgotten,” before ending by stating: “It was agreed that the US President’s special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are currently deeply involved in Iranian affairs, will come to Russia again in the near future.”