Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. Photo: Jim Watson / AFP
Russian President Vladimir Putin had a 50-minute telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump, during which he expressed his readiness to continue negotiations with Ukraine after 22 June. Russian state media reported this with reference to presidential aide Yuri Ushakov.
The conversation took place on 14 June, Trump’s birthday. According to Ushakov, Putin congratulated the American leader on his birthday and American Flag Day, and informed him of the progress of the agreements reached during the meeting of the Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul on 2 June. In particular, they discussed the exchange of prisoners of war, including the severely wounded, and the transfer of the bodies of fallen soldiers to Ukraine.
Putin said that the Russian side was ready to continue negotiations with Ukraine, as agreed, after 22 June. Ushakov noted that Trump took note of this information and reiterated his desire to end the war in Ukraine as soon as possible.
During the conversation, the parties also discussed the situation in the Middle East and the possibility of resuming negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme. In addition, Putin and Trump noted the “brotherhood of arms between the two countries” during World War II and expressed satisfaction that the two countries maintain contacts that allow them to resolve current issues.
The official Ukrainian side has not yet commented on Putin’s statement. Kyiv has repeatedly stressed that it will not agree to negotiations without guarantees of the withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine and the restoration of its sovereignty.
