Trump speaks with Putin over phone ahead of meeting Zelensky

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that he has held a very productive phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin before his meeting with Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky.

"I just had a good and very productive telephone call with President Putin of Russia prior to my meeting, at 1:00 P.M. (6:00 p.m. GMT)," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Trump was the first to announce the conversation. But later Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said that Putin and Trump held their ninth telephone conversation this year.

According to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, "the conversation was initiated by the U.S. president," who wanted to discuss with Putin the current situation surrounding the Ukrainian conflict and the prospects for resolving it.

He noted the leaders discussed the situation in Ukraine and prospects for cooperation between the two countries.

According to Ushakov, during the conversation, Trump acknowledged that "the Ukrainian crisis has been the most challenging" for him, adding that he was "once again convinced of Russia’s commitment to a political and diplomatic resolution."

Ushakov said that "during the call, President Putin agreed with the U.S. proposal to continue seeking a settlement in Ukraine through two specially established working groups." One of the teams will address "security issues," while the other will focus on "economic matters."

"The schedule for launching these working groups will be finalized soon, likely in early January," Ushakov said.

The diplomat also noted that "the presidents of Russia and the United States generally share the view that a temporary ceasefire proposed by the Ukrainians and Europeans - whether to prepare for a referendum or for other reasons - would only prolong the conflict and could lead to a resumption of hostilities."

The conversation also addressed the future prospects for relations between Moscow and Washington once the Ukrainian crisis is resolved.

"The entire conversation was friendly, positive, and practical, with both sides eager to work toward a peaceful, long-term resolution of the Ukrainian conflict," Ushakov said.

Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov has also confirmed that Vladimir Putin had a phone call with his U.S. counterpart.