In phone call Saturday, President Trump offered President Putin help finding resolution to Ukraine conflict,Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said. Nearly 90-minute talk came days before NATO summit in Ankara.
Ushakov called the conversation “businesslike and quite constructive,” noting Trump pledged to end fighting quickly. Russia wants a political solution that respects its core principles. “The American president once again confirmed his readiness to work towards a rapid end to fighting and find solutions to overcome the crisis,” Ushakov said Sunday.
President Zelenskyy also spoke with Trump same day about the vast 1,200-km front line. He sounded hopeful, saying, “There is real prospect to end this war and American resolve will have a crucial meaning.” They plan to continue talks at next week's NATO summit,with leaders from 32 nations attending, including Trump.
Despite these talks,situation remains tense. Both Ukrainian and Russian forces have made little headway lately,drone warfare complicating movement of heavy vehicles, causing losses . Ushakov accused Kyiv and European allies of prolonging conflict,citing Ukraine’s long-range attacks on Russian oil targets, leading to fuel shortages in some regions.
On battlefield,Putin claimed Russian forces took city of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk. But Zelenskyy and Ukraine’s General Staff denied it, saying Ukrainian forces still control the city.
Last month, Zelenskyy asked Putin for one-on-one meeting, but Kremlin said no. Ushakov noted Trump mentioned U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would keep trying for settlement,open to Moscow visit. Yet U.S . efforts stalled as focus shifts to Iran.
Putin hopes U.S. diplomacy with Iran might yield solutions on key issues…world watches for any developments from these high-level talks.
