Donald Trump
President of the United States
Background
Donald Trump is the 47th president of the United States and the leader of the American executive branch, with authority over federal policy, diplomacy, defense, and domestic administration. In that role, he is a central counterpart for Russian officials on issues such as the war in Ukraine, sanctions, arms control, and wider U.S.-Russia relations. He and Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation on 2026-03-09, during which they discussed the Iran conflict, prospects for a Ukraine ceasefire, and Venezuela in relation to global oil markets. Trump has also said he wants the conflict in Ukraine to end as quickly as possible through a ceasefire leading to a long-term settlement.
Born in New York City in 1946, Trump graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968 with a degree in economics. He joined his family’s real estate business in 1971 and later renamed it the Trump Organization, building a career in property development and related ventures that included skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. He became widely known through the reality television program The Apprentice, which aired from 2004 to 2015, and used that visibility to support his entry into national politics. As a Republican, he won the 2016 presidential election and served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021 before returning to the office after the 2024 election.
Trump’s political career has been defined by a series of major policy shifts and controversies that affected both domestic governance and foreign affairs. During his first presidency, he imposed a travel ban on several Muslim-majority countries, expanded the border wall with Mexico, signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, appointed three Supreme Court justices, and withdrew the United States from key climate, trade, and Iran-related agreements. After losing the 2020 election, he attempted to overturn the result, and he was impeached twice while in office. In his second presidency, he has initiated large-scale federal layoffs, imposed broad tariffs, and pursued an active foreign policy agenda that has included Ukraine, Venezuela, and Iran, making him one of the most consequential foreign counterparts for Russia in current international affairs.
Timeline
Donald Trump held an hour-long telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin.
Remarks by Yuri Ushakov, Assistant to the President of Russia, Following a Telephone Conversation Between Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald TrumpDuring the call, Donald Trump discussed prospects for a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Remarks by Yuri Ushakov, Assistant to the President of Russia, Following a Telephone Conversation Between Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald TrumpDuring the call, Donald Trump discussed the Iran conflict and Venezuela’s impact on global oil markets.
Remarks by Yuri Ushakov, Assistant to the President of Russia, Following a Telephone Conversation Between Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump
Documents
Remarks by Yuri Ushakov, Assistant to the President of Russia, Following a Telephone Conversation Between Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump
Putin and Trump held an hour-long call covering the Iran conflict, Ukraine ceasefire prospects, and Venezuela's impact on global oil markets, their first since December 2025.