Trump and Putin hold phone call but Kremlin refuses Ukraine ceasefire

Donald Trump describes call as ‘excellent,’ despite Vladimir Putin’s lack of support for ceasefire that US said was primary objective

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to students and teachers of the new Secondary Special Music School at the Sirius Park of Science and Art after his phone talks with US President Donald Trump. Picture: Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump have held a rare phone call, which the US leader described as “excellent”, but the Kremlin refused to agree to a ceasefire in the war with Ukraine, despite pressure from Washington and European allies.

Speaking to reporters in Sochi after the two-hour conversation on Monday, Mr Putin described the call as “very meaningful and frank” and said he was prepared to work with Ukraine on drafting a memorandum for future peace talks.