Putin and Trump Hold 'Extremely Frank' Call on Ukraine Settlement

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held an hour-long phone call on Tuesday, which the Kremlin described as 'extremely frank' and constructive. The discussion centered on the Ukraine conflict, with Trump urging a speedy end to the fighting and Putin providing an 'objective and detailed analysis' of the frontline situation, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov. The call followed a weekend visit to Moscow and Kyiv by US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, aimed at reviving stalled peace efforts. Washington has pushed for fresh face-to-face talks between Moscow and Kyiv, with Kyiv suggesting they could occur as early as this month, though the Kremlin stated on Monday it was 'too early' to discuss venues or dates. The talks come amid ongoing international efforts to broker a ceasefire in the nearly three-year-long conflict.