Putin tells Trump Russia does not 'have any aggressive plans' for Europe

Russian president Vladimir Putin has reassured US president Donald Trump that Moscow doesn't have aggressive plans towards Europe but that it is determined to reach its military goals. The dictator's claim came during a phone call between the two leaders today, according to a senior Kremlin official, and followed concerns from European officials aboout Russian sabotage campaigns on their soil. Moscow believes it is close to winning the war in Ukraine, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Meanwhile, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that US envoys who visited Kyiv presented some "very good, worthwhile ideas" for ending Russia's four-and-a-half-year war, adding that he hoped to meet Mr Trump within two weeks. Ukrainian and western observers believe that Moscow has been unable to make any significant progress on the front line. The war could yet drag on for years as Russia reconstitutes its forces and its defence industry, US undersecretary of defence Elbridge Colby said. Speaking during an online meeting of countries helping Ukraine, Mr Colby said: "We must be prepared for a protracted conflict and for Ukraine's requirements to persist in the months and years ahead." Separate talks between US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff and Putin and Zelenskyy have also taken place in Moscow and Kyiv last weekend. But, following a weekend truce in the two capitals to accommodate the American visits, both countries resumed their war, suggesting the meetings didn't produce any substantial breakthrough on ending the fighting. At least five civilians were killed in Kyiv and 25 injured, while Russia reported three people lost their lives and 13 were wounded. Smoke rising over Kyiv today following a Russian attack on the Ukrainian capital -Credit:AFP via Getty Images Regarding the phone call, Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign affairs adviser, said the conversation was "constructive and quite frank" and took place over the course of one hour. There was no immediate White House comment on the call. Mr Ushakov told reporters that "in view of the speculation about Russia's alleged hostile intentions toward European countries, it was underlined that we don't have any aggressive plans regarding Europe". Mr Ushakov also said Mr Putin told Mr Trump about the combat situation in Ukraine and Russia's plans to make battlefield gains and achieve its military goals. He said that Moscow has a positive view of the results of the weekend visit to Moscow by Mr Witkoff and Mr Kushner. Mr Ushakov said: "An objective and thorough analysis of the ongoing special military operation and generally our view of prospective battlefield advances and the achievement of the special military operation's goals and tasks was given." Zelenskyy is hoping to meet Trump around September 20, which is around the same time the UN General Assembly is due to be held in New York. Putin is not expected to attend. Zelenskyy pictured shaking hands with US envoy Steve Witkoff on Sunday -Credit:Maxym Marusenko/NurPhoto/Shutterstock The Ukrainian president has previously indicated he plans to press Trump to provide more Patriot air defence systems to help Kyiv counter Russia's ballistic missiles. About 300 Patriot missiles would be needed from Ukrainian partners, along with 500 air-to-air interceptors and two billion US dollars for more drones, UK defence secretary Wes Streeting told the meeting of countries providing help. Also on Tuesday, the European Commission approved a loan of 3.2 billion euros for Kyiv to purchase components for Patriot air defence systems, Ukraine's defence ministry said on its Telegram channel. Zelenskyy thanked US officials for their efforts to unblock negotiations with Russia, which have been stuck since early this year with little progress. He said: "As for the peace package that Kushner spoke about and the new ideas, I'll tell you frankly, there were indeed a couple of very good, worthwhile ideas." The proposals will remain under wraps for now, he said, but he expressed hope that talks involving delegations from Ukraine, Russia and the US can take place in the autumn. US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff pictured in Kyiv on Sunday -Credit:Maxym Marusenko/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Ukraine is "ready to find a compromise" on the issues of grain exports and energy, he said. Moscow and Kyiv have targeted each other's grain ships in the Black Sea, raising concerns that two of the world's major suppliers will not be able to get their produce to market. Ukraine has also battered Russian oil facilities, while Russia has pounded Ukraine's power grid ahead of winter. Mr Peskov said he believed "victory is very close" on the battlefield. "We're very confident in our military potential," he told reporters, while insisting Russia wants to find a peaceful solution and welcomes Trump's diplomatic efforts.