HOUSTON/MOSCOW/KYIV - US President Donald Trump said that he did not make any progress during his phone call earlier on Thursday with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin over Iran and the Ukraine conflict.

"No, I didn't make any progress with him today at all," Trump told reporters. "I'm not happy about that."

"We had a call. It was a pretty long call. We talked about a lot of things, including Iran, and we also talked about, as you know, the war with Ukraine," said Trump.

During the phone call, which lasted about an hour, Putin said that Moscow would achieve its goals in the conflict with Ukraine, including the elimination of its root causes, according to Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov.

"Our president said that Russia will achieve its goals, namely to eliminate the well-known root causes that led to the current state of affairs, to the current harsh confrontation. And Russia will not give up on these goals," Ushakov said.

Putin's aide said that Russia is ready for the third round of talks with Ukraine, adding that Putin and Trump did not discuss the specifics of what would be discussed during the possible negotiations.

ALSO READ: Iranian foreign minister slams Israeli-US attacks in call with EU foreign policy chief

He also told the media that Putin and Trump discussed the current situation in Iran and the Middle East, and the situation in Syria over the phone.

On the Middle East issue, "Putin stressed the importance of resolving all disputes, disagreements and conflict situations exclusively with political and diplomatic means. The sides agreed to maintain contacts in this regard at the level of foreign ministries, the defense ministries and presidential aides," he added.

Putin and Trump confirmed their mutual interest in implementing a series of economic projects between Russia and the United States, including in energy and space, Ushakov said.

"Within the framework of exchange of opinions on bilateral issues, both sides have confirmed their mutual interest in the realization of a series of promising economic projects, particularly in the spheres of energy and space research," he said.

Ushakov said the presidents agreed to continue their communication.

Russian Navy's deputy head killed

Major General Mikhail Gudkov, deputy head of the Russian Navy, has been killed in a Ukrainian strike in Russia's Kursk Region, the governor of the far eastern Primorye Territory said Thursday.

Calling Gudkov a "hero of Russia and hero of Primorye," Governor Oleg Kozhemyako said in a Telegram post: "I express my deepest condolences to the families, friends and fellow servicemen of Mikhail Gudkov, Nariman Shikhaliyev and all other fighters who were killed in the Kursk Region."

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed Thursday that Gudkov was killed in a combat mission in a border area of the Kursk Region on Wednesday.

Gudkov, 42, was appointed deputy commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy in March. He previously served as commander of the 155th Separate Guards Brigade of the Pacific Fleet Naval Infantry and participated in the special military operation starting on Feb. 24, 2022. 

ALSO READ: Kremlin: Russia has no intention to delay talks on Ukraine

Drone strikes 

Ukrainian drones have successfully hit ammunition depots in the Russia-controlled area of the eastern Donetsk region, the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) reported on Thursday.

The attack occurred on Wednesday evening near the town of Khartsyzk, igniting fire and causing the stored ammunition to detonate, the SSU said in a statement.

According to the statement, Khartsyzk serves as a strategic hub for Russian forces, housing command posts, logistics centers, and ammunition depots.

The SSU added that efforts are ongoing to disrupt the operation of the Russian army's rear bases.