Russian President Vladimir Putin told President Donald Trump during a phone call that Moscow has no hostile plans to invade Europe, the Kremlin said.
Kremlin officials said the two leaders spoke for roughly an hour on Tuesday, later briefing reporters on what was discussed.
The call followed visits to Moscow and Kyiv by Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who had pushed for a rapid conclusion to the war in Ukraine but returned without a breakthrough.
Putin aide Yuri Ushakov said the discussion centered on a possible Ukraine settlement, adding that Trump made clear he wanted the conflict brought to a swift close because it could create “impressive and far-reaching prospects” for fully restoring US-Russian relations.
Ushakov also addressed reports suggesting Russia was preparing an attack on an unnamed European NATO ally, insisting that Putin has no such intention.
“Given the speculation about Russia’s alleged hostile intentions against European states, it was emphasized that we harbor no thought of aggressive plans against Europe,” he said.
Putin aide Yuri Ushakov, pictured speaking with Jared Kushner, said Trump again stressed his desire for a quick end to the Ukraine-Russia war during Tuesday’s call between the leaders
Ushakov said Trump argued that both the US and Russia could benefit economically if the war ends soon
Putin reaffirmed to Trump on the call that Russia does not have intentions to invade any NATO ally countries, Ushakov said
Putin ordered a temporary pause in targeting Kyiv so that Witkoff and Kushner could safely conduct peace negotiations after their stint in Moscow. Ukraine also reduced its strikes during the trip.
While the White House has not offered a readout of the call between Trump and Putin, it did praise the efforts of Witkoff and Kushner, touting the creation of ‘substantive plans for next steps,’ though neither side announced a breakthrough.
Their outreach came just weeks after CIA Director John Ratcliffe secretly flew to Russia to meet with his intelligence counterparts.
Ratcliffe reportedly warned the Russian officials against attacking any NATO partners after classified intelligence reports allegedly indicated Moscow was preparing to do so.
Trump called the CIA Director’s visit a ‘semi-routine’ check-up when he was asked about the clandestine meeting after online sleuths tracked Ratcliffe’s government plane’s trip to Russia.
According to Putin’s aide, Trump relayed during Tuesday’s call that Russia and US relations would be dramatically repaired with the imminent ending of the war.
Firefighters deal with the aftermath of a massive Russian missile and drone attack on September 8, 2026 in Kyiv, Ukraine
Already, 120,000 to 150,000 Ukrainian soldiers and 450,000 Russian soldiers are estimated to have died during the conflict. Above, a new unit of Ukrainian recruits is pictured before their deployment to the front lines
What comes next in the four and a half year war remains unclear, though Ushakov said the presidents would speak again as needed.
Already 120,000 to 150,000 Ukrainian soldiers and 450,000 Russian soldiers are estimated to have died during the conflict.
When accounting for those injured or missing, casualties skyrocket to around 1.6 million for Russia and between 525,000 and 625,000 for Ukraine.
The US mediated negotiation between Russia and Ukraine have stalled in recent months as Trump searches for a way to end that conflict in addition to the one in the Middle East.
Russia has demanded territorial concessions from Ukraine, mainly in the contested Donbas region on Ukraine’s eastern border, but Kyiv has largely rejected those demands.
While both sides have left the door cracked for negotiations, there are no scheduled talks between them or with US mediators.
The White House did not respond to Our News Outlet’s request for comment.
