Photo: EPA
US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin held a phone call on July 4, according to the Kremlin. The conversation took place on US Independence Day, as the country marked the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the call lasted one hour and 25 minutes and claimed it was initiated by the US. According to Moscow, Putin congratulated Trump and the American people on the holiday before the two leaders discussed bilateral relations, international issues and Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The Kremlin said Putin briefed Trump on what it described as the “real situation on the battlefield,” including repeating Russia’s claim that it had captured Kostyantynivka.
Moscow also said Putin reiterated that Russia was open to negotiations while insisting it would continue pursuing its military objectives. No concrete agreements were announced following the conversation.
Later the same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also spoke with Trump by phone and congratulated the United States on Independence Day.
The White House had not confirmed the Trump-Putin call at the time of publication.
