Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with Donald Trump for nearly 90 minutes on July 4, according to the Russian foreign ministry. The conversation was their fourth this year and was described as ‘businesslike and highly constructive.’ Trump reaffirmed his readiness to facilitate the earliest possible cessation of hostilities in the Ukrainian conflict.
The Russian side emphasized the preference for a political and diplomatic resolution to the conflict, while claiming that ‘Kyiv and its European sponsors are banking on prolonging and even escalating the conflict.’ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had also had a ‘very good call’ with Trump on Saturday, stating that there is a real prospect to put an end to this war, and America’s resolve is decisive.
Ukraine Conflict Update
Russia has claimed that its forces now control the important town of Kostyantynivka in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denied this, calling it ‘another Russian lie, an attempt to generate some kind of a news story.’ The Ukrainian military said that small groups of Russian soldiers had infiltrated the town, but counter-sabotage operations were ongoing.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
