Kremlin Details Putin-Trump Phone Call on Ukraine Conflict

The conversation between the presidents of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and the United States, Donald Trump, lasted one hour and 15 minutes, Yuri Ushakov, an advisor to the Russian leader, communicated today in a briefing.
December 29, 2025 | 03:12

During the call, the leaders addressed additional measures to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and agreed to continue negotiations in working groups, and it was initiated at the request of the American side, added Ushakov.

He also recalled that the conversation took place prior to Trump's meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Vladimir Zelensky, and that at the start of the talk, the leaders exchanged Christmas and New Year greetings, after which they began to address resolving the situation in Ukraine.

Ushakov affirmed that Trump listened attentively to Putin's arguments and Russia's assessments of possible paths for resolving the conflict.

"Trump listened attentively to Russia's assessments of the real prospects for reaching an agreement, as well as the very detailed arguments of our president on the fundamental importance of continuing to rely on the fundamental Russian-American understandings reached during the Anchorage summit," he stated.

During their conversation, the U.S. president emphasized that the Ukrainian crisis had been the most difficult for him during his presidency. He also noted that he was again convinced of Russia's desire to resolve the conflict by political and diplomatic means.

According to Ushakov, Trump emphasized the need to end the war as soon as possible and saw in this prospects for economic cooperation between Washington, Moscow, and Kiev.

Both leaders agreed in considering the peace proposals from Kiev and the European Union as attempts to prolong the conflict, since proposals for a temporary ceasefire, under the pretext of preparations for a referendum, in the presidents' opinion, only increase the risk of a resumption of hostilities.

They likewise agreed to speak again shortly after Trump's meeting with Zelensky.

Putin also supported the U.S. proposal to continue working on a solution for Ukraine within the framework of two working groups created specifically for this purpose: one on security issues and another on economic aspects.

According to Ushakov, a definitive cessation of hostilities is only possible if Kiev makes a decision regarding Donbas that is consistent with the joint Russian-American approach.

He emphasized: "given the evolution of the situation on the front, it would be logical for the Ukrainian regime to make this decision on Donbas without delay."