President Donald Trump detailed his latest conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, revealing the two leaders discussed the ongoing war in Ukraine and rising tensions with Iran.
Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One for an “America 250” rally in Iowa, Trump said, “We had a call—it was a pretty long one. We talked about a lot of things, including Iran. We also talked about the war in Ukraine.”
When asked if the conversation had produced any progress toward ending the war, Trump shook his head. “No, I didn’t make any progress with him today,” he admitted. “I’m not happy about that.”
What the Kremlin Says
According to Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign policy adviser, the Russian president emphasized the need to resolve the Iranian issue through diplomacy. On Ukraine, Putin reportedly told Trump that Moscow is willing to engage in negotiations—but reiterated that Russia remains committed to its military goals and demands, including Ukraine dropping its NATO ambitions and recognizing Russian-held territories.
“Russia will not back down from these goals,” Ushakov said.
Putin has long justified the invasion, launched in February 2022, as a defense against NATO expansion and to protect Russian-speaking populations—claims rejected by Ukraine and its Western allies.
Ongoing Communication
The call was the sixth publicly acknowledged conversation between Trump and Putin since Trump returned to the presidency earlier this year. Their last call came on June 14, the day after Israel struck targets in Iran, underscoring how frequently the two leaders have engaged during multiple global crises.
Just days earlier, Putin had also spoken with French President Emmanuel Macron in a rare direct communication, suggesting renewed diplomatic maneuvering on multiple fronts.
Context: U.S. Pauses Weapons Shipments to Ukraine
The Trump-Putin call came shortly after the Pentagon announced a temporary suspension of certain arms deliveries to Ukraine. A U.S. official confirmed that the pause affects critical items like air defense systems and precision-guided artillery, as part of a broader review of U.S. military stockpiles.
Asked about the move, Trump said the U.S. is still assisting Ukraine but criticized the Biden administration for depleting military resources.
“We’re giving weapons, but we gave so many. Biden emptied out the country giving them weapons—we have to make sure we have enough for ourselves,” Trump said.
Ushakov confirmed the weapons pause was not discussed during the leaders’ call.
Russia’s Summer Offensive Intensifies
While diplomatic conversations continue, fighting on the ground is escalating. Russian forces have advanced significantly in eastern Ukraine, capturing key towns in Donetsk and Sumy. Their strategy—using small, mobile assault teams and drone swarms—has put Ukrainian defenses under immense pressure.
Roughly 50,000 Russian troops are now massed near the Sumy region, and fighting continues to rage around cities like Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking from Denmark, said he hopes to speak with Trump in the coming days about the U.S. weapons pause.
The Human Cost
The war continues to exact a devastating toll:
- Russian casualties: Estimated between 950,000 and 1 million total, including 250,000 killed.
- Ukrainian military losses: Over 46,000 killed, 390,000 wounded (as of early 2025).
- Civilian casualties: At least 13,134 Ukrainians killed and 31,867 injured, per UN reports.
- Civilian deaths have surged in 2025 due to intensified Russian missile and drone attacks on urban centers.
With no breakthrough in sight, the war remains the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War II—and a major test for Trump’s foreign policy in his second term.
