India, July 3 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin told US President Donald Trump that Moscow would not "give up" on its aims in Ukraine but remained open to continuing negotiations, the Kremlin said on Thursday after a phone call between the two leaders.

"Our president said that Russia will achieve the aims it set, that is to say the root causes that led to the current state of affairs," Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters. "Russia will not give up on these aims," he added.

"He also spoke of the readiness of the Russian side to continue the negotiation process," Ushakov said, adding that the call lasted almost an hour.

Putin also stressed the need for diplomacy in resolving tensions in Iran and the broader Middle East.

"From the ...