Trump Holds 90-Minute Call With Putin To Accelerate Ukraine Peace Talks

Washington: Donald Trump spoke to Vladimir Putin on the phone for about 90 minutes on Saturday. Kremlin spokesman Yuri Ushakov announced this on Sunday. Trump offered to help solve the Ukraine war. He said that he wants to end the fighting quickly.

What did Trump say about ending the war?

Trump repeated his commitment to finding ways out of the crisis. He told Putin he wants the war to end soon. Ushakov called the conversation very constructive. Trump made it clear that America is serious about solving this problem and getting peace talks moving. Russia also said that it wants a political and diplomatic solution. But Ushakov made something important clear. Russia's solution has to protect Russian strategic interests and thinking. Russia won't accept any deal that ignores what matters to them.

What are Russia's accusations?

Kremlin blamed Ukraine and its European allies for prolonging the war. Ushakov said that Ukraine is using terrorist tactics against civilians. He pointed to Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil facilities and military bases. These attacks have caused fuel shortages across Russian regions.

Putin gave details to Trump about the battlefield situation. He said Russian forces are advancing steadily. Russian troops are taking territory one area after another. On Friday, Russian military officers claimed that they captured the strategic city of Konstantinovka in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. But Ukraine rejected this claim completely. Zelenskyy and Ukrainian military commanders said on Saturday that Konstantinovka is still under Ukrainian control and the city hasn't fallen.

What is Russia's main demand?

Russia insists on full control of the Donbas region in any peace agreement. This is non-negotiable for them. Ukraine has consistently refused this demand. According to Ukrainian officials, they won't give Russia the entire Donbas. Last month, Zelenskyy proposed a direct face-to-face meeting with Putin. Kremlin rejected the proposal outright as they're not interested in that right now.

Who will continue peace efforts?

Trump said that America's special envoys Steve Bitkoff and Jared Kushner will keep working on solutions. They might visit Moscow again if needed. The work is ongoing even if progress is slow. Washington has been distracted by Iran tensions lately. America's diplomatic focus shifted to managing the Iran crisis. That's why Ukraine negotiations have moved slower recently.

What did Putin ask Trump about Iran?

Putin expressed hope that American diplomatic efforts on the Iran issue will lead to long-term and mutually acceptable solutions. He repeated his invitation for Trump to visit Moscow. He wants Trump to come to Russia for talks.

What did Zelenskyy say?

Zelenskyy said his conversation with Trump was excellent. He posted on Telegram that both leaders discussed the 1,200-kilometer war front. They agreed to continue talking during the NATO summit next week. Zelenskyy believes there's real possibility of ending this war. He said American determination will play the decisive role in achieving peace.