Putin Says Russia Is Ready To Negotiate But Still Wants To Achieve War Goals In Ukraine On Trump's Phone

Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Source: Alexander Kazakov / Press Service of the President of the Russian Federation / TASS)

JAKARTA - President Vladimir Putin said Russia was ready to negotiate but would not back down to achieve war goals in Ukraine, in addition to discussing economic issues to the Middle East, during a phone call with United States President Donald Trump on Thursday.

In this phone call the two leaders discussed Ukraine's settlement, the Middle East situation, the US-Russian economic project, and the exchange of films promoting traditional values.

President Putin congratulated President Trump on US Independence Day which falls on July 4, while President Trump started talks by providing up-to-date information on the ratification of his economic bill, quoted from TASS July 4.

However, the two did not discuss possible face-to-face meetings, and did not discuss the suspension of US arms shipments.

Meanwhile, Kremlin aides said President Putin informed President Trump that Russia was willing to negotiate but would not back down from its original goal on the battlefield.

"Vladimir Putin, for his part, noted that we are continuing to seek political solutions and negotiations for the conflict," Yuri Ushakov said.

President Putin briefed President Trump on the implementation of an agreement reached between Russia and Ukraine last month to exchange prisoners of war and killed soldiers, Ushakov said, and told him Moscow was ready to resume negotiations with Kyiv.

"Our president also said Russia would achieve its predetermined goals: namely, removing the roots of the known cause that causes the current situation, to the current acute confrontation, and Russia will not back down from this goal," he added.

Regarding Iran, Ushakov said "The Russian side emphasizes the importance of resolving all disputes, disapprovals, and conflict situations exclusively through political and diplomatic means".

Putin is known to have made a number of phone calls with Trump since returning to the White House. The first contact occurred on February 12, then successively made calls on March 18, May 19, June 4 and June 14.