- Trump held separate phone talks with Putin and Zelensky ahead of the NATO summit
- The leaders discussed the Ukraine war and ongoing diplomatic efforts
- Ukraine peace talks remain stalled as Russia and Ukraine maintain opposing demands
United States President Donald Trump on Saturday held separate telephone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as diplomatic efforts to address the war in Ukraine continue ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara.
According to the Kremlin and the Ukrainian presidency, Eko Hot Blog gathered that the calls also coincided with celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said the discussion between Trump and Putin focused on prospects for resolving the conflict in Ukraine, particularly in view of Trump’s expected attendance at the NATO summit scheduled for July 7 and 8 in Ankara.
Speaking through Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency, Ushakov said the conversation lasted about 85 minutes and also covered developments involving Iran and the wider Middle East.
Zelensky, in a post on X, described his own conversation with Trump as “very good,” saying they reviewed the latest developments on the battlefield and ongoing diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the war.
He expressed optimism that there is a genuine opportunity to achieve peace, stressing that the United States’ commitment would play a crucial role. Zelensky added that both leaders agreed to continue their discussions during the NATO summit in Ankara.
The summit is expected to bring together heads of state and delegations from 32 member countries, including President Trump, beginning on Tuesday.
According to Ushakov, Putin used the call to brief Trump on what he described as the situation on the battlefield, claiming Russian forces were making steady advances.
However, military activity has remained largely static in recent months, with the extensive use of drones by both Russia and Ukraine limiting the movement of heavy equipment and contributing to significant casualties on both sides.
Diplomatic efforts have also stalled, as Russia continues to insist that Ukrainian troops withdraw completely from the Donetsk region, a condition Kyiv has repeatedly rejected.
