Putin and Trump Hold Call on Ukraine War
At a Glance:
- Putin and Trump spoke by phone for an hour Tuesday, focused on ending the Ukraine war.
- The call followed a weekend visit by US envoys Witkoff and Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv.
- Overnight Russian strikes killed at least five people in Kyiv shortly after the envoys' visit.
- Zelensky said three-way talks with Russia, Ukraine, and the US could happen as soon as this month.
Putin and Trump held what the Kremlin called a frank, hour-long call Tuesday, as Washington tries to revive stalled efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
Key Statements and Focus Area:
- Kremlin's Account: "[Putin] pointed out what the Americans could realistically do to bring the hostilities to a swift conclusion" and said Russia had "no aggressive plans" toward Europe. — Yuri Ushakov, Kremlin aide.
- Ukraine's Reaction to Strikes: "The moment the US president's peace envoys left, Putin launched another massive, horrific attack against Kyiv. His ballistic missiles speak louder than his words on diplomacy." — Andriy Sybiga, Ukrainian Foreign Minister.
The call came days after Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Moscow and Kyiv to try to restart negotiations. Trump pushed for a quick end to the war, while Putin gave his own assessment of the frontline, in line with his usual claims of steady Russian advances toward full control of Donbas. Neither side gave further details of the conversation.
Fighting has continued despite the diplomatic push. A short ceasefire tied to the envoys' visit ended overnight, with fresh Russian strikes on Kyiv killing at least five people and sparking fires that sent residents into shelters. One local, Nina Kimova, described barely escaping as her car was destroyed. In Crimea, Russian-backed officials said a Ukrainian strike killed two people.
Talks may still move forward. Zelensky said negotiators could meet within weeks, though the Kremlin said Monday it's too early to set a date or location. Zelensky also suggested Putin may be wary of provoking Trump ahead of the US midterms. The main sticking point remains unchanged: Moscow wants Ukraine to give up Donetsk territory and drop Western military support, terms Kyiv rejects as surrender.
FYI
Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022, and repeated negotiation attempts have failed as both sides hold firm on incompatible demands. Civilian deaths in Ukraine are now at their highest since the war's early months, according to UN-verified data.
Dive Deeper: Handpicked Stories for You
Follow Channel8 for continuous updates:
US Envoys Kushner And Witkoff Arrive In Kyiv Today
Kremlin Calls US Delegation Meetings Frank Substantive And Constructive
