US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed issues in Ukraine, Iran and other countries on “frank and constructive” calls on Thursday, the Kremlin discussed in the sixth public speech since Trump returned to the White House.
In the war in Ukraine, Putin’s foreign advisor Yuri Ushakov stressed Trump’s push for a quick halt of combat, and that Putin is ready to pursue consultations with Kiev in Moscow, saying that Turkey’s previous rounds had humanitarian consequences.
At the same time, the Russian leader said Moscow would try to achieve its goals in Ukraine and remove the “root cause” of the conflict.
“Russia will not retreat from these targets,” Ushakov told reporters after the call.
Putin joined Ukrainian NATO in February 2022, claiming he sent troops to Ukraine, and avoided the threat to Russia brought about by the push to protect Ukrainian Russian speakers, argued by Kiev and his allies.
He argued that future peace agreements would require Ukraine to abandon NATO bids and recognize Russia’s territorial interests.
Thursday’s call follows the Pentagon’s confirmation that it has suspended shipments of some weapons to Ukraine when reviewing US military stockpiles.
Weapons held for Ukraine include air defense missiles, precision guided artillery and other equipment.
Details of some weapons in the suspension delivery have been confirmed by US officials and former national security officials familiar with the issue.
They both requested anonymity to discuss what is being supported as the Pentagon has not yet provided details.
Ushakov said the suspension of US weapons to Ukraine was not discussed in Trump Putin’s call.
Ukrainian Voldimi Zelenkie said she may talk to Trump in the coming days about halting weapons delivery after meeting key European Union supporters in Denmark.
“I hope we’ll talk about it with President Trump probably tomorrow, or the nearest day,” he said.
Asked about his expectations from Trump Putin’s call, he said, “I don’t know if they have a lot of common ideas, talking (about) (to talk about) because they are so different people.”
The previous publicly known call between Trump and Putin was June 14, the day after Israel attacked Iran.
The reopened contact between Trump and Putin appeared to reflect the interest of both leaders in repairing ties that have plummeted to their lowest points since the Cold War amidst conflict in Ukraine.
Ushakov said Trump told Putin about his 4.5 trillion (3.8 trillion euros) tax credit and spending reduction bill, and that Russian leaders managed to pursue his plan and celebrated the Independence Day holiday.
While discussing the situation in Iran and the broader Middle East, Putin emphasized the need to resolve all differences “by political and diplomatic means only,” Ushakov said.
Leaders have agreed to maintain contact on the issue by Russian and US officials, he added.
The US struck three Iranian nuclear sites on June 22nd, inserting it into an Israeli conflict aimed at destroying Tehran’s nuclear program.
Kremlin advisers also expressed interest in the leadership discussing Syria’s development, pursuing bilateral projects in the energy sector and space exploration, and describing it as “frank, business, concrete conversations.”
Ushakov added that Putin even suggested that the US and Russia could exchange films that promote “traditional values shared by the US and Trump administration.”
On Tuesday, President Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron held their first in-person call in almost three years.
