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WASHINGTON — President Trump’s call with Russian President Vladimir Putin wrapped up after more than two hours of direct diplomacy Monday — with Russia saying it was not ready for an immediate cease-fire in its 39-month-old war with Ukraine until the “root cause” of the “crisis” is addressed.
Putin described the conversation in a statement as “frank and meaningful,” adding that he was thankful for Trump’s initiative to have direct talks with both belligerent leaders.
“Russia is ready to work with Kyiv on a memorandum on a future peace treaty which could include issues of a cease-fire and principles for resolving the conflict,” the 72-year-old said after the call before adding that there is a “need to work out the most effective paths toward peace” that would be suitable to “all sides.”
The White House did not immediately issue a readout on the Trump-Putin call, which was due to be followed by a conversation between the US president and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Russia’s “position on the whole is known,” Putin added, a reference to his baseless claims in 2022 that Moscow was invading Ukraine to “de-Nazify” the country and save Russian-speaking residents of Ukraine from oppression by Kyiv.
Ukrainian and Russian officials met face-to-face on Friday in Turkey for the first time in more than three years, opting to hold talks despite Putin declining to attend.
The two sides agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war from each side and pledged to return to the negotiating table with respective visions for establishing a cease-fire.
English (US)