Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US President Donald Trump held a 90-minute call on July 4, according to the Russian foreign ministry. The conversation was described as “businesslike and highly constructive” by the ministry.

During the call, Trump reaffirmed his readiness to facilitate the earliest possible cessation of hostilities in the Ukrainian conflict, the ministry said. Putin also congratulated Trump and the American people on the 250th anniversary of the US declaration of independence.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also spoke with Trump on July 4, describing the call as “very good” and stating that there is a real prospect to put an end to the war. Zelensky added that America’s resolve is decisive in ending the conflict.

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 claim, calling it a Russian lie.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.