Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held a phone conversation lasting nearly 90 minutes on July 4, during which Trump again expressed his willingness to help end the war in Ukraine, Russia's foreign ministry said.
The discussion marked the fourth telephone exchange between the two leaders this year and came ahead of a major NATO summit in Turkey, scheduled to begin on Tuesday with Trump expected to attend.
According to Russia's foreign ministry, Putin extended his congratulations to Trump "and the entire American people on this significant holiday" to mark the 250th anniversary of the US declaration of independence. The ministry characterised the exchange as "businesslike and highly constructive" and said Trump had "reaffirmed his readiness to facilitate the earliest possible cessation of hostilities" in the war.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Sunday that Trump repeated the offer while discussing his forthcoming participation in the NATO summit. According to Ushakov, "the American president once again confirmed his readiness to work towards a rapid end to the fighting and find solutions to overcome the crisis."
Ushakov said Moscow continued to pursue "a political-diplomatic resolution of the conflict, with due account of Russia's fundamental approach". He also alleged that Kyiv and its European partners were "counting on extending and even escalating the conflict, and on terrorism against civilians", referring to Ukraine's long-range attacks on Russian targets, most of which have been linked to the oil industry.
He further stated that Trump had indicated Washington's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, would remain engaged in efforts to negotiate a settlement and were willing to return to Moscow.
Describing Putin's account of the military situation, Ushakov said the Russian leader had "depicted the real situation on the battlefield where the Russian armed forces are confidently advancing, liberating one locality after another." Russian military commanders informed Putin on Friday that their forces had captured the strategically important eastern Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka.
Ukraine, however, disputed that assertion. On Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelensky and the country's General Staff said Kyiv's troops continued to maintain control of the city.
Zelensky also revealed that he had a "very good call" with Trump on Saturday. He said, "There is a real prospect to put an end to this war, and America's resolve is decisive."
The war in Ukraine is widely expected to dominate discussions at the upcoming NATO summit.
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