Reaction Following Telephone Conversation Between President Putin and US President Trump

Moscow, December 30. Following the telephone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump on Monday, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov informed the media, “This year, President Putin has already maintained a total of 17 contacts with American representatives. This includes a visit to Alaska, 10 telephone conversations with Donald Trump, and 6 meetings with his special envoys.”

Presenting the subject matter of the telephone conversation, Ushakov said, “President Trump and his key advisors present during the call provided a detailed briefing on the main outcomes of the talks with the Ukrainian delegation at Mar-a-Lago. According to the American presentation, during these talks, the American side firmly advocated the idea that instead of relying on the demand for a temporary ceasefire, Kyiv must take real steps towards a final resolution of the conflict. Zelenskyy was advised not to try to secure a respite for his armed forces, but to focus on achieving a comprehensive agreement that would lead to the actual end of the armed conflict.”

He mentioned that US President Donald Trump informed them about some results achieved by Zelenskyy’s team in this direction, but added, “However, according to our assessment, these results still give Kyiv officials room for various interpretations to evade their commitments.”

Ushakov mentioned a significant event, stating, “President Putin also drew his counterpart Trump’s attention to the fact that immediately after what is considered a successful round of talks at Mar-a-Lago, the Kyiv regime carried out a terrorist act involving an attack with long-range unmanned aerial vehicles on the official residence of the Russian President in the Novgorod region. The Russian side has clearly stated that such reckless terrorist acts will be answered and met with a serious response.”

Mentioning that the US President was shocked and outraged by this information, he said, “The US President was shocked, genuinely outraged by this information. He said he could not even imagine such irrational actions. And, as stated, this will undoubtedly affect the United States’ approach in the context of working with Zelenskyy.”

Ushakov informed that President Putin expressed his intention to continue close and productive work with American partners in searching for ways to achieve peace, but made it clear that regarding a number of agreements reached at the previous stage and the newly outlined solutions, Russia’s position will be revised. “Since Kyiv is employing state terrorism, the Russian side cannot act otherwise,” he said.

At the end of the conversation, both presidents agreed to continue the dialogue going forward.