CoinWorld News reports that on March 9th, local time, Russian Presidential Aide Ushakov stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump had a phone call that day. Ushakov said the call was initiated at the U.S. side’s proposal, lasted about an hour, and was pragmatic, honest, and constructive. The main topics discussed were the Middle East situation related to Iran and the negotiation process regarding Ukraine. Regarding Iran, both sides engaged in specific and beneficial communication, with Putin calling for a quick return to political and diplomatic means to resolve the conflict. Concerning Ukraine, Putin stated that the Russian armed forces are making steady progress in the special military operation, which should encourage Ukraine to accelerate the negotiation process. Trump reiterated his hope for a quick ceasefire and expressed the U.S. intention to participate in mediating Ukraine long-term. Ushakov also mentioned that the two presidents discussed related issues, including the situation in Venezuela, and both expressed willingness to maintain regular communication. (CCTV News)