ANKARA — U.S. President Donald Trump held separate telephone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of this week's NATO summit in Turkey, with both discussions focusing on prospects for ending the war in Ukraine and setting the stage for further diplomacy during the alliance meeting.
The Kremlin said Putin and Trump spoke for about 85 minutes on Saturday, during which the Russian leader congratulated Trump on the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said the leaders discussed efforts toward a settlement in Ukraine in light of Trump's participation in the July 7-8 NATO summit in Ankara and described the conversation as "business-like and quite constructive."
According to Ushakov, Trump reaffirmed his willingness to help bring about a rapid end to hostilities and support efforts to find a political solution to the conflict. The Kremlin also said the two leaders discussed developments in the Middle East, including Iran.
Later, Zelenskyy said he had a "very good phone call" with Trump, during which the two leaders reviewed battlefield developments and discussed diplomatic efforts to end the war. In a statement, the Ukrainian president said there was "a real prospect" of ending the conflict and that he and Trump agreed to continue their discussions in person during the NATO summit.
The separate calls come as fighting continues across Ukraine despite renewed diplomatic contacts. Ukrainian officials have warned of intensified Russian missile and drone attacks, while Russia has continued pressing military operations along several sectors of the front line. Neither Moscow nor Kyiv indicated that the conversations produced any immediate breakthrough toward a ceasefire.
A senior U.S. official said Trump plans to meet Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the NATO summit as part of a broader effort to revive negotiations aimed at ending the conflict, which U.S. officials have described as largely stalemated on the battlefield. The official said Trump may hold additional contacts with Putin following his discussions with the Ukrainian leader.
The NATO summit is expected to focus on allied defense spending, continued support for Ukraine and broader European security. Officials from alliance member states are also expected to discuss military assistance for Kyiv and the future direction of diplomatic efforts to resolve the war.
