US President Donald Trump spoke on the phone with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the country's Independence Day on July 4, which became the 250th, the Kremlin reported. As Putin’s assistant Yuri Ushakov emphasized in a conversation with Russian media, the conversation took place on the American initiative.
According to Ushakov, the leaders discussed issues on the bilateral and international agenda for 1 hour and 25 minutes. Before that, the last time they spoke was June 14, Trump's birthday.
“The conversation, this is the fourth this year, was naturally not only protocol, but also businesslike and very constructive. This conversation made it possible to openly discuss current issues on the bilateral and international agenda,” Interfax quotes Ushakov.
The Putin aide added that Trump emphasized the need to “end the Ukrainian conflict as soon as possible.” The head of the White House connected this with the prospects for “mutually beneficial cooperation” between the United States and Russia. At the beginning of the conversation, Putin congratulated Trump and the American people on the national holiday, recalling Russia’s contribution to the formation of American statehood, Ushakov said.
Earlier, the Russian President sent a congratulatory telegram to the head of the White House, in which he addressed him on a first-name basis.
“I wish you, Donald, and your loved ones health, prosperity and success, and all American citizens happiness and prosperity,” Rossiyskaya Gazeta quotes Putin’s congratulations.
On US Independence Day, Trump also spoke with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. According to the office of the Ukrainian leader, he congratulated his American colleague on the holiday and thanked him for his support, including military support.
The presidents discussed the need for diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukrainian conflict and agreed to continue this conversation at the NATO summit in Ankara (Türkiye). It will take place on July 7-8 with the participation of Zelensky.
The news has been updated to include information about Trump’s conversation with Zelensky.
