Trump says he discussed Ukraine and Iran conflicts with Putin

By Nandita Bose and Bo Erickson

DORAL, Florida, March 9 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday told reporters he had a "very good call" with Russian President Vladimir Putin about Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East.

"There's tremendous hatred between President Putin and (Ukraine's) President Zelenskiy. They can't seem to get it together, but I think it was a positive call on that subject," Trump said.

Trump added that Putin "wants to be helpful" with the Iran conflict.

"I said, 'You could be more helpful by getting the Ukraine-Russia war over with. That will be more helpful,'" Trump told reporters in a press conference at his Florida golf club.

A foreign policy aide for Putin said on Monday that Putin proposed an idea for a "quick political and diplomatic end to the Iranian conflict."

Trump recently has expressed dismay about the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which started more than four years ago.

(Reporting by Nandita Bose and Bo Erickson; editing by Costas Pitas)