Throughout a cellphone name with U.S. President Donald Trump on July 3, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated "Russia will proceed to pursue its objectives" within the warfare towards Ukraine, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov stated.
The hour-long dialog between the 2 presidents targeted on Russia's warfare in Ukraine and the state of affairs within the Center East, in line with Ushakov.
"Trump as soon as once more emphasised the necessity to finish navy hostilities as quickly as doable. Vladimir Putin famous that Russia continues to hunt a political negotiated answer to the battle," Ushakov stated.
"Our president stated that Russia will pursue its objectives, particularly addressing the foundation causes that led to the present state of affairs, and won’t again down from these goals."
The Kremlin aide added that the 2 leaders mentioned cultural diplomacy, particularly the change of movies selling what Ushakov described as "conventional values near Russia and the U.S. presidential administration."
Putin's message got here amid a surge of Russian drone and missile assaults throughout Ukraine which have killed and injured a whole lot of civilians in latest weeks.
The strikes have destroyed quite a few infrastructure as Russia intensifies its assault regardless of repeated calls from Kyiv, Washington, and European leaders for an unconditional ceasefire.
The cellphone name additionally got here only a day after the U.S. Protection Division paused shipments of key weapons techniques to Ukraine, together with Patriot air protection missiles and precision-guided munitions. Ukraine's Overseas Ministry has warned that the delay undermines protection efforts and dangers emboldening Russia to escalate additional.
President Volodymyr Zelensky, talking from Denmark earlier within the day, stated that attaining peace would require direct talks between nationwide leaders.
The president described Trump and Putin as "fully completely different individuals" however emphasised that solely Putin makes selections in Russia.
"In Russia, solely Putin makes selections, which is why we want a gathering on the management stage if we need to have peace," Zelensky stated.
In line with Ushakov, the presidents didn’t focus on the potential for a gathering, however "the thought is within the air," and so they agreed to proceed communication.
Moscow and Kyiv have held two rounds of face-to-face talks in Istanbul this 12 months, first on Could 16 and once more on June 2, following greater than three years with no direct negotiations.
The conferences resulted in a number of prisoner exchanges, however no steps towards a ceasefire.
Whereas Trump has expressed frustration with Russia's continued aggression, his administration has not imposed new sanctions nor taken steps to stress the Kremlin immediately.
The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta