Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump continued a detailed and frank exchange of views on the situation around Ukraine during today's telephone conversation. This was reported by the Kremlin's press service in its telegram channel.
"Having confirmed his principled commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict, the Russian President declared his readiness to work with American partners to thoroughly study possible ways of settlement, which should be comprehensive, sustainable and long-term. And, of course, take into account the unconditional need to eliminate the root causes of the crisis, Russia's legitimate security interests," the statement said.
It is noted that in the context of Trump's initiative to introduce a 30-day truce from the Russian side, a number of significant points have been identified regarding ensuring effective control over a possible ceasefire along the entire line of combat contact, the need to stop forced mobilization to Ukraine and the rearmament of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Serious risks associated with the incompetence of the Kiev regime, which has repeatedly sabotaged and violated the agreements reached, were also noted. The Russian President drew the interlocutor's attention "to the barbaric crimes of a terrorist nature committed" by the Ukrainian Armed Forces militants against civilians in the Kursk region.
Putin stressed that the key condition for preventing the escalation of the conflict and working towards its resolution through political and diplomatic means should be the complete cessation of foreign military assistance to Kiev and the provision of intelligence to it.
As for Trump's recent call to save the lives of Ukrainian servicemen surrounded in the Kursk region, Putin confirmed that the Russian side is ready to be guided by humanitarian considerations and, in case of surrender, guarantees the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine life and decent treatment in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation and international law.
"During the conversation, Donald Trump put forward a proposal on the mutual refusal of the parties to the conflict from strikes on energy infrastructure facilities for 30 days. Vladimir Putin responded positively to this initiative and immediately gave the Russian military the appropriate command," the statement said.
Putin also reacted constructively to Trump's idea of implementing a well-known initiative concerning the safety of navigation in the Black Sea. The parties agreed to start negotiations for additional elaboration of specific details of such an agreement.
Vladimir Putin informed the interlocutor that on March 19, an exchange of prisoners — 175 for 175 people - will take place between the Russian and Ukrainian sides. In addition, as a gesture of goodwill, 23 seriously wounded servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who are in Russian medical institutions will be transferred.
The leaders reaffirmed their intention to continue efforts to achieve a bilateral settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, including taking into account the aforementioned proposals of the US President. For this purpose, Russian and American expert groups are being created.
"Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump touched upon other issues on the international agenda, including the situation in the Middle East and the Red Sea region. Joint efforts will be made to stabilize the situation in crisis points, establish cooperation on nuclear non-proliferation and global security issues. This, in turn, will contribute to improving the overall atmosphere of Russian-American relations. One of the positive examples is the solidarity vote in the UN on the resolution on the Ukrainian conflict," the press service added.
The parties expressed mutual interest in normalizing bilateral relations in the light of the special responsibility of Russia and the United States for ensuring security and stability in the world. In this context, we considered a wide range of areas in which the Russian Federation and the United States could establish cooperation. Putin and Trump discussed a number of ideas related to the development of mutually beneficial cooperation in the economy and energy in the future.
Donald Trump supported Vladimir Putin's idea to organize hockey matches in the USA and Russia between Russian and American players playing in the NHL and KHL.
The Presidents agreed to stay in touch on all the issues raised.
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