Yuri Ushakov, foreign policy aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, briefed reporters late yesterday evening (Moscow time), giving a second official report on the day’s phone call between Putin and President Donald Trump. The first Russian report was Putin’s personal statement, mirroring the fact that the U.S. “readout” had taken the form of a social media post by Trump.

Ushakov pointed to key points Putin had made to Trump concerning two wars—both Iran and Ukraine. Regarding Iran, he said, Putin “especially emphasized that the potential of diplomacy on Iran has by no means been exhausted. It is possible and necessary to talk with Tehran towards reaching an agreement.” Putin informed Trump that “he had discussed the situation in detail with President Pezeshkian [of Iran],” when they met in Turkmenistan the previous day. According to Ushakov, Putin noted that American dialogue with Tehran continues with Qatar’s mediation, and added that the Russian offer to take Iran’s enriched uranium under protective custody in Russia, as a possible way out of the stalemate, still stands.

“Naturally,” said Ushakov, “great attention was paid to the prospects for resolving the conflict in Ukraine.” He stressed two major points Putin had made. One was a military update—a detailed description of “the measures we are taking in response to terrorist attacks by the Kiev regime, which has opted for escalation and prolongation of the conflict by all means. It was emphasized that Kiev’s attempts to halt the Russian advance along the entire contact line by striking deep into our territory are futile. … At the same time, Vladimir Putin made it very clear that our position regarding the goals and objectives of the special military operation remains unchanged, as does our readiness for a political and diplomatic settlement aimed at achieving a long-term, sustainable peace.”