Putin, Trump hold phone talks on Ukraine, bilateral ties

Our Privacy Statement & Cookie Policy By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser. This combination of pictures shows US President Donald Trump (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin. /VCG Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump on Saturday, according to Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov. The United States commemorated the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding on Saturday, its Independence Day. Ushakov confirmed that Putin congratulated Trump on the holiday. "This conversation, the fourth such exchange this year, was naturally not merely a routine protocol exchange but business-focused and highly constructive. It allowed for a frank discussion of pressing issues on the bilateral and international agenda," the presidential aide noted. During the conversation, Putin outlined the battlefield situation, saying Russian troops are advancing along the full line of contact. Ushakov stressed that European nations hold a flawed perception of the overall dynamics and realities along the contact line amid the Ukraine conflict. On bilateral ties, the two presidents underscored the importance of sustaining consistent communication, including on military, political and economic fronts. "There exist vast prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation between our two nations in these spheres. Trump stressed that an early resolution to the Ukraine conflict would serve as a prerequisite to unlocking such cooperation," Ushakov said.