Trump offers to help end Ukraine war in 90-minute call with Putin, Kremlin says | Today’s news
US President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for nearly 90 minutes on Saturday, offering to help them find a solution to the war in Ukraine ahead of next week’s NATO summit in Turkey, the Kremlin said.
The call came as Trump also held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who described their conversation as “very good” and said the two leaders agreed to continue talks at a NATO meeting.
Trump offers to help end the war
Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said Trump reiterated his willingness to help broker an end to the conflict.
“The American president reaffirmed his readiness to seek a quick end to the fighting and find a solution to overcome the crisis,” Ushakov said, according to Reuters.
He called the conversation between Trump and Putin “businesslike and quite constructive.”
Russia reiterates its position
According to Ushakov, Putin told Trump that Russia continues to seek “a political-diplomatic solution to the conflict with due consideration of Russia’s basic approach.”
Ushakov also accused Ukraine and its European allies of “expecting the expansion and even escalation of the conflict and terrorism against civilians,” referring to Ukraine’s long-range strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.
He added that Putin said Russian forces on the battlefield were “advancing confidently and liberating one location after another”.
The dispute over Kostiantynivka
The Kremlin’s announcement followed Russian claims that its forces had captured the strategically important town of Kostiantynivka in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
However, Zelensky and the Ukrainian General Staff rejected the claim, saying that Ukrainian forces remained in control of the city.
Russia insists that any peace settlement must include full Russian control of the Donbas region, a condition Ukraine has repeatedly rejected.
American envoys will continue to mediate
Ushakov said Trump told Putin that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would continue to try to broker a peace deal and were ready to visit Moscow again.
He also said Putin expressed hope that US diplomatic efforts related to the Iran conflict “will make it possible to find mutually acceptable long-term solutions to the key issues of the settlement.”
Putin also renewed his invitation for Trump to visit Moscow, Ushakov said.
Zelenskyy: “Real prospects” for ending the war
In a post on Telegram, Zelensky said he and Trump discussed developments along the 1,200 km front line.
“There is a real prospect of ending this war, and American determination will be crucial,” Zelenskyy said.
He added that he and Trump agreed to continue discussions during the upcoming NATO summit in Turkey.
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