United States President Donald Trump has spoken separately with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, where the war in Ukraine is expected to be a key topic.
The phone conversations took place on Saturday and also marked the 250th anniversary of the United States, according to Russian and Ukrainian officials.
The Kremlin said Trump and Putin discussed possible ways to resolve the war in Ukraine, with particular attention to the NATO summit scheduled for July 7 and 8 in Turkey. The two leaders also exchanged views on Iran and developments in the Middle East during their 85-minute conversation.
Zelensky described his call with Trump as “very good,” saying they reviewed the current situation on the front lines and ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war.
The Ukrainian president said there is a real opportunity to bring the conflict to an end and stressed that continued U.S. support would be vital. He added that both leaders agreed to continue their discussions during the NATO summit.
The Ankara summit is expected to bring together leaders and delegations from 32 countries, including Trump, to discuss regional security and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
According to the Kremlin, Putin also briefed Trump on Russia’s military operations, claiming Russian forces were making progress on the battlefield. However, fighting has largely remained at a standstill in recent months, with drones making major advances difficult and causing heavy losses on both sides.
Peace negotiations remain deadlocked, with Moscow insisting that Ukrainian forces withdraw from the entire Donetsk region, a demand that Kyiv continues to reject.
