Putin and Trump Discuss Ukraine and Bilateral Relations in Phone Call

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with US President Donald Trump on Saturday, according to presidential aide Yuri Ushakov. The call coincided with the United States marking the 250th anniversary of its founding and Independence Day, with Putin conveying his congratulations to Trump on the occasion. “This conversation, which was the fourth exchange of its kind this year, was by no means a routine protocol exchange, but rather a substantive and highly constructive one focused on key issues. It allowed for an open discussion of pressing matters on the bilateral and international agenda,” the aide said. During the dialogue, Putin outlined the actual situation on the battlefield, with Russian forces continuing to advance along the entire line of contact. Ushakov stressed that European nations have a distorted perception of the overall dynamics and the realities on the ground in the Ukraine conflict. Regarding bilateral relations, the two presidents underscored the importance of maintaining consistent communication, including in the military-political and economic spheres. “There are broad prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries in these areas. Trump emphasised that an early resolution of the Ukraine conflict would be a prerequisite for unlocking such cooperation,” Ushakov said.