Russian Foreign Ministry Says Putin Asked Trump for Advice on Ending the 90-Minute Russia-Ukraine War Call

[Financial News] The Russian Foreign Ministry said on July 4, U.S. Independence Day, that President Vladimir Putin called U.S. President Donald Trump and asked for advice on ending the Russia-Ukraine War.
CNN reported on the 5th, citing the Russian Foreign Ministry, that Putin congratulated Trump on the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence and that the two leaders held a "businesslike and very constructive" conversation.
The 90-minute call was the fourth between the two leaders this year. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Trump told Putin he was ready to speed up efforts to halt hostilities and bring the war to an end.
The Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that "Russia prefers to resolve the war through political and diplomatic means." It also criticized the Ukrainian government and other European supporters, saying they were trying to prolong and widen the conflict.
It added that Putin also told Trump that Russian forces were advancing on the front line.
CNN noted that the call came ahead of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit scheduled for July 7 in Turkey.
In recent weeks, Russian forces have stepped up their offensive to seize as much of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine as possible, one of the Kremlin's top goals. Ukraine, meanwhile, has been intensively striking key Russian energy infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also spoke by phone with Trump on the same day.
Zelensky said it was a good call and that there appeared to be a chance to end the war. He added that the U.S. role would be decisive.
Russia has long maintained that the war can only end if it takes full control of Donbas in eastern Ukraine.
The Russian government said over the weekend that capturing Kostyantynivka in Donetsk was a major milestone.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine said only a small number of Russian troops had infiltrated the area, but that Ukrainian forces were responding effectively.
In recent weeks, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been intensively attacking key infrastructure in Russia, including oil refineries, ports and weapons factories, with missiles and drones.
On July 4, President Zelensky said Ukrainian forces struck an oil facility in Saint Petersburg, which helps finance the war.

jjyoon@fnnews.com Yoon Jae-jun Reporter