President Donald Trump said he deliberately stepped out of an Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and seven European leaders before phoning Russian President Vladimir Putin, arguing it would have been “disrespectful” to make the call in their presence. He told Fox News that Putin has had strained ties with European capitals and had not spoken to U.S. officials “for years” before Trump’s outreach. Trump added that there is “a warmth” in his relationship with the Kremlin leader, describing cordial ties as “a good thing” despite tensions over Russia’s war in Ukraine. The remarks follow a series of consultations that included a three-day summit with Putin in Anchorage on 15 August and a White House session on 18 August focused on possible security guarantees and prisoner exchanges for Kyiv. Zelenskyy characterised his talks with Trump as their “best” meeting to date.