• Trump and Putin oppose a European-Ukrainian ceasefire before a settlement.
• Kremlin claims Kyiv must make a decision regarding Donbas for hostilities to end.
• Discussions between Trump and Putin deemed "productive," focusing on future talks.

The Kremlin announced on Sunday that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump do not endorse a temporary ceasefire proposed by European-Ukrainian leaders. Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov noted that both leaders believe this ceasefire would only extend the conflict rather than resolve it. The call between Trump and Putin lasted 75 minutes, with Ushakov stating, "The option of a temporary ceasefire... only leads to a prolongation of the conflict and is fraught with renewed hostilities," according to SCMP and Reuters.

Ushakov emphasized that for the current hostilities to cease, Ukraine must make a "bold decision" regarding the Donbas region, which Russia largely controls. Trump, pursuing his objective to terminate the conflict, expressed a commitment to ending the hostilities. Ushakov also highlighted Trump's promise to diligently work towards establishing economic cooperation between the U.S. and Ukraine, indicating a shared interest known between both leaders, according to Reuters and AA.

Following their discussion, Trump characterized the dialogue with Putin as "productive," while emphasizing the importance of the forthcoming meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump's approach towards Zelensky appears critical, as the U.S. leader has been vocal about conditions under which he might support Ukraine's military requests. The Kremlin spokesperson confirmed that territorial discussions, particularly concerning Donbas, are a significant hurdle, saying, "Kyiv's decision on Donbas is necessary to stop the fighting," according to AA and SCMP.