Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held an hourlong phone call on Tuesday, as Russia resumed strikes on Kyiv after pausing attacks for a visit by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The Kremlin called the conversation "extremely frank" and constructive, and the envoys' weekend trip to Moscow and Kyiv was an attempt to kickstart long-stalled US efforts to end the fighting, the Japan Times reported. The Kremlin said a day later that the two leaders had also discussed a possible three-way meeting with 
Xi Jinping.
What did the Kremlin say? Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign affairs adviser, said Putin assured Trump that Moscow has no aggressive plans regarding Europe, after European officials blamed Russia for sabotage campaigns on their soil, PBS NewsHour reported. Ushakov said Moscow had a positive view of the results of the envoys' visit and that Putin told Trump about Russia's plans to make battlefield gains and achieve its military goals. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he believed "victory is very close" on the battlefield, while insisting Russia wants a peaceful solution and welcomes Trump's diplomatic efforts. There was no immediate White House comment on the call.
What did Zelenskyy say? Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is counting on meeting Trump around Sept. 20, said the US envoys presented "a couple of very good, worthwhile ideas," PBS NewsHour reported. He said he hoped talks involving Ukrainian, Russian and US delegations could take place in the fall, and that Ukraine is "ready to find a compromise" on grain exports and energy.
What happened in the overnight attack? Authorities said the attacks killed seven people and injured 28 in Kyiv and the surrounding region, PBS NewsHour reported. Interior Minister Ivan Vyhivskyi said Russia's main targets were Kyiv and the Odesa region, and that more than 50 sites were damaged, including residential buildings, dormitories and schools. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called it "a horrific attack" and accused Putin of undermining US peace efforts, while Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces had launched a massive strike on Ukrainian military industry facilities. Ukraine's Defense Ministry said its forces downed 175 aerial targets but that ballistic missiles hit homes in Kyiv, The Hill reported.
Was a meeting with Xi discussed? Asked whether the leaders discussed a trilateral meeting with Xi at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen on Nov. 18-19, Peskov said: "Undoubtedly." Russia has signaled that Putin will attend, while the White House has not announced whether Trump will be there, the Korea Times reported.
Figures referenced: Donald Trump, Xi Jinping. — JudgeMarket.
