Putin, Trump discuss Ukraine war, bilateral relations in phone call
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Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump on Saturday, discussing the Ukraine conflict, bilateral relations and broader international issues, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.
The call coincided with the United States' Independence Day celebrations, marking the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding. Ushakov said Putin congratulated Trump on the occasion.
Describing it as the fourth phone conversation between the two leaders this year, Ushakov said the discussion went beyond protocol and was "business-focused and highly constructive," allowing both presidents to exchange views candidly on key bilateral and international issues.
During the conversation, Putin briefed Trump on what he described as the current battlefield situation, stating that Russian forces were advancing along the entire line of contact in Ukraine. Ushakov also claimed that European countries have an inaccurate understanding of the overall military situation and developments on the ground.
On bilateral relations, both leaders highlighted the importance of maintaining regular communication, including on military-political and economic cooperation. According to Ushakov, Trump emphasised that an early resolution of the Ukraine conflict would be essential for unlocking the significant potential for mutually beneficial cooperation between the United States and Russia in these areas.
Ushakov also accused Ukraine and its European allies of seeking to prolong and escalate the conflict, alleging that they were resorting to attacks targeting civilians. He was referring to Ukraine's recent long-range strikes on Russian targets, particularly facilities linked to the oil industry, which have reportedly led to fuel shortages in several Russian regions.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could travel to Moscow for talks with Putin once he is prepared to make what the Kremlin described as "important and responsible decisions", according to local media reports.
Speaking to Radio KP, Peskov was responding to Zelensky's reported proposal to meet Putin in Kostiantynivka, Russia's state-run TASS news agency reported. He said Putin had expressed his willingness to receive Zelensky in Moscow, adding that Moscow, not Kostiantynivka, is the capital of Russia.
With IANS inputs