Moscow:Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed understanding of certain US proposals aimed at reducing the conflict in Ukraine during a phone conversation with US President Donald Trump on Friday evening, the Kremlin announced on Saturday.
According to Emirates News Agency, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the call, initiated by Trump, focused largely on efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict. Putin reportedly showed understanding of some proposals from Washington intended to ease tensions.
Peskov also mentioned that Putin relayed Tehran's position on a potential settlement involving Iran, following his discussions with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during a summit in Turkmenistan.
After the call, Trump revealed an agreement for Russia to supply extensive quantities of diesel to the US and international markets in exchange for a temporary easing of sanctions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized this decision, arguing that sanction relief would provide Russia with additional resources to continue its military operations.
Germany reiterated its dedication to maintaining European sanctions against Russia and supporting Ukraine, as confirmed by government spokesman Stefan Kornelius and Economy Minister Katherina Reiche. Separately, Zelenskyy mentioned that Ukraine anticipates receiving Finnish ammunition for its F-16 fighter jets following talks with Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
On another front, Russia's Defence Ministry claimed that Ukrainian forces suffered approximately 1,535 military casualties over the previous 24 hours. It also reported the capture of Lukashove and Lobanivka in the Kharkiv region, strikes on port infrastructure and a military cargo vessel near Odesa, and the downing of 725 drones and two HIMARS rockets.
In the Luhansk region, Leonid Pasechnik, the Russian-appointed head, reported four civilian deaths and five injuries due to Ukrainian shelling.
On Ukraine's side, the State Emergency Service announced that the death toll from Russian airstrikes on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia had climbed to 15, including three children, with 16 others injured. Ukraine's General Staff also reported strikes on an oil pumping and distribution facility in Russia's Samara region.