MOSCOW/BRATISLAVA - Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump on Tuesday held a telephone conversation that was "constructive and very frank," Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said.

Ushakov said the call lasted exactly one hour, adding that during the conversation, Putin stressed that Russia has no hostile intentions toward European countries.

"Against the backdrop of speculation alleging that Russia holds hostile intentions toward European states, it was emphasized that we do not harbor any aggressive plans against Europe whatsoever. The circulated myths about a Russian threat serve as a cover for European nations to ramp up support for Ukraine and increase their own military spending," Ushakov said.

Ushakov said Trump, for his part, stressed the need to end the Ukraine conflict, a move that would immediately open broad and promising prospects for the full restoration of Russia-US relations.

The two sides agreed to continue efforts to resolve humanitarian issues, including the exchange of detained and convicted individuals.

When asked for further details, Ushakov said the conversation was strictly confidential. 

Lavrov: Washington considers Ukraine's NATO bid closed

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday that Trump considers the issue of Ukraine joining NATO closed.

"Trump said, first, to forget even about trying to drag Ukraine into the North Atlantic Alliance. He said this was clear long before Putin's statements. The issue is closed, and there is no need to try to stir it up," Lavrov said on a TV program.

Russia is ready to continue talks with the US about Ukraine, he said. "They acknowledge the basic things and try to be useful around them. I believe this deserves support."

Lavrov added that Russia's discussions with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow are based on Trump's position of not bringing Ukraine into NATO and recognizing the realities on the ground. 

Moscow believes victory in Ukraine 'very near'

Meanwhile, Russia is confident of victory in the Ukraine conflict and believes victory is "very near", Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday.

"We are sure that the victory is very near....Our combat operations are proceeding very successfully," Peskov told a press briefing, noting that Russia hopes a path toward a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine conflict will be found sooner or later.

However, he said the Ukrainian authorities have demonstrated little flexibility, and that he does not believe Ukraine genuinely wants to end the war. "This war could have ended long ago."

Peskov noted that US representatives have shuttled between Moscow and Kyiv in recent days, spending substantial time and effort relaying the two sides' positions. Russia expects progress on this front and hopes that trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the US will resume.

"Serious work is underway. We hope certain shifts will emerge in this regard," the Kremlin spokesperson added. 

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Slovakia calls for more active EU role in Ukraine peace efforts

EU leaders should have played a more active role in seeking a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Ukraine, Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar said in an interview with TASR TV.

Blanar said the US is now playing a significantly greater role in the peace process, while Europe has provided substantial financial support to Ukraine.

"At present, we basically don't have a seat at the table. We are simply paying all the costs associated with it," Blanar said.

According to data released by the European External Action Service, since the start of the war, the EU and our member states have made available to Ukraine over $226 billion in financial, military, humanitarian, and refugee assistance.

Blanar said Slovakia could find common ground with its partners in the Visegrad Four (V4), comprising the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, on the need for a more active EU role in the peace process, although the four countries have different views on how to achieve a ceasefire.

He noted that Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic would not participate in guarantees for a 90 billion euro ($104.5 billion) loan to Ukraine, while Poland had decided to do so. "Despite having different views, we are still able to discuss these issues together," Blanar said.

Slovakia assumed the one-year V4 presidency on 1 July this year. According to Blanar, Slovakia is preparing for a meeting of the Slovak and Ukrainian governments, which is expected to take place in Lviv, Ukraine, but the date has not yet been decided.