Putin, Trump discuss Ukraine settlement, Mideast situation over phone

MOSCOW. July 4 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed Russia-U.S. relations, the Ukraine settlement process, the situation around Iran, in Syria and the Middle East as a whole during a phone conversation on Thursday.

The conversation between the U.S. and Russian presidents lasted about an hour, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said on Thursday.

"In general, I would like to note that the talk between the presidents, as always between these two leaders, went on the same wavelength, was frank, businesslike and specific. The presidents, naturally, will continue their communication in the near future," Ushakov said.

The previous Putin-Trump phone call took place on June 14 and lasted about an hour as well.

UKRAINE

When discussing the Ukraine issue, Trump "once again raised the prospect of ceasing hostilities as soon as possible," Ushakov said.

Putin, in turn, told Trump that Russia stands ready to continue negotiations with Ukraine, but said that Russia will not step away from its goal of eliminating the root causes of the Ukraine crisis, he said.

"Putin, in turn, noted that we continue to seek a political, negotiated solution to the conflict. He informed [Trump] on the process of implementing agreements of a humanitarian nature, which were reached during the second round of Russia-Ukraine direct contacts in Istanbul," Ushakov said.

"He [Putin] noted Russia's readiness to continue the negotiation process [with Ukraine]," Ushakov told journalists.

"Our president said Russia will be seeking to achieve its goals, i.e. the elimination of the universally known root causes which led to the current situation, the current acute confrontation. Russia will not abandon these goals," Ushakov said.

According to Ushakov, Moscow and Washington are working on the assumption that the Russian-Ukrainian talks should continue in a bilateral format.

"We are working on the assumption, and I think that the U.S. side understands that perfectly well, that the talks will be bilateral, between representatives of Russia and Ukraine," Ushakov told reporters, responding to a question as to whether Putin and U. Trump have discussed the possibility of the United States getting involved in these talks.

"The specific content of a possible third round of the Russian-Ukrainian talks was not discussed [in the talk between Putin and Trump]," Ushakov said.

At the same time, Ushakov mentioned Putin's statement "that we are ready to continue the negotiation process, that is, ready for a new third round."

Putin and Trump did not address the issue of U.S. weapons supply to Ukraine in their talk on Thursday, Ushakov said.

"This issue was fairly broadly discussed in the mass media in the past days, hours, but the issue was not addressed in this talk," Ushakov told reporters, responding to a question as to whether the U.S. president has informed the Russian president about the decision made by the United States to suspend weapons supply to Ukraine.

MIDDLE EAST

Putin and Trump discussed in detail the situation around Iran and in the Middle East as a whole, Ushakov said.

"The situation around Iran and in the Middle East as a whole was discussed quite substantively," Ushakov told journalists.

"The Russian side stressed the importance of settling disputable issues, differences and conflicts by political diplomatic means only," Ushakov said.

The development of events in Syria was also discussed, Ushakov said.

"The recent development of events in Syria was also addressed. And the Russian and U.S. sides [...] will continue dialogue on this track," Ushakov said.

RUSSIA-U.S. RELATIONS

When speaking about Russia-U.S. relations, Putin and Trump reaffirmed the two countries' mutual interest in pursuing promising economic projects in energy and space exploration, Ushakov said.

"During their exchange of views on bilateral affairs, [the presidents] reaffirmed their mutual interest in implementing a number of promising economic projects, in particular in the energy sector and in space exploration," Ushakov said.

Trump also informed Putin of the successful passage in the U.S. Congress of his administration's flagship bill on tax, immigration and energy reform, he said. Trump calls this draft legislation "big beautiful bill," Ushakov said.

Putin wished Trump "every success with the implementation of the planned reforms and certainly congratulated him on the U.S. national holiday, Independence Day, which will be marked tomorrow [on July 4]," Ushakov said.

Putin also spoke about Russia's role in the establishment of the U.S. as a state, he said.

"On our part, it was noted that Russia played not the last role in the establishment of American statehood, including during the American War of Independence 250 years ago, and later during the Civil War, which concluded 160 years ago," Ushakov said.

According to Ushakov, Trump liked the idea of Russia and the United States exchanging films promoting Russian and U.S. traditional values.

"Vladimir Putin mentioned that, literally before his conversation with Donald Trump, he met with Russian business community representatives. At that meeting, in particular, an idea was put forward that two countries should exchange film products that promote the traditional values that are dear to us and to the Trump administration," Ushakov told journalists.

"Trump reacted right away. He said he liked this idea," Ushakov said.

TO BE CONTINUED

"The presidents will certainly continue their communication in the near future," Ushakov said.

"There is an agreement on that. If necessary, any of the leaders may pick up the phone, and we, their aides, will agree on a telephone contact in the course of the day," he said.

During this phone call, Putin and Trump did not discuss the possibility of an in-person meeting, he said.

"The possibility of an exactly in-person meeting was not discussed," Ushakov said.

"The idea of an in-person meeting is in the air, and a specific agreement will be achieved on it in any case. But this matter was not touched upon this time," he said.

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