Trump offers to help end Russia-Ukraine war in Putin call, Kremlin says

What Happened

U.S. President Donald Trump offered to help Russian President Vladimir Putin find a solution to the war in Ukraine during a nearly 90-minute phone call on Saturday, according to Kremlin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov. Ushakov stated that Trump confirmed his readiness to work toward a rapid end to the fighting, while Putin emphasized Russia's interest in a 'political-diplomatic resolution' that accounts for its 'fundamental approach.' The same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with Trump, discussing the 1,200-km front line and asserting that 'American resolve will have a crucial meaning' for ending the war; they agreed to continue talks at the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara. Russia simultaneously claimed its forces had captured the city of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast, a claim Zelenskyy and Ukraine's General Staff denied, stating Kyiv's forces still control the city. Ushakov accused Ukraine and European allies of 'counting on extending and even escalating the conflict,' referencing Ukrainian long-range strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, while also noting that Trump mentioned U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would continue mediation efforts and were prepared to visit Moscow again.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The phone calls mark a direct engagement between Trump and both Putin and Zelenskyy, potentially reviving U.S.-led diplomatic efforts that had largely stalled. The Kremlin's framing of the call—emphasizing its conditions for resolution while accusing Ukraine and European allies of escalation—suggests Moscow is positioning itself for negotiations on its own terms, even as battlefield claims remain contested. With the NATO summit in Ankara imminent, the diplomatic push could either create momentum for talks or expose widening gaps between Western and Russian positions.

Watch For

Monitor the NATO summit in Ankara starting July 7–8, where Trump, Zelenskyy, and other leaders are expected to discuss the war; any follow-up visits by U.S. envoys Witkoff and Kushner to Moscow; and verification of the status of Kostiantynivka, which Russia claims to have captured but Ukraine denies.