WASHINGTON, March 18. /TASS/. Presidents Donald Trump of the United States and Vladimir Putin of Russia agreed that the Ukrainian conflict needs to be ended in lasting peace, the White House said in a written statement after their phone call.

"Today, President Trump and President Putin spoke about the need for peace and a ceasefire in the Ukrainian war. Both leaders agreed this conflict needs to end with a lasting peace," the document reads.

According to the Kremlin press service, during the call, Putin reiterated his principled commitment to a lasting peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian conflict. The Russian leader stressed the unconditional need "to eliminate the root causes of the crisis and take into account Russia’s security interests."