US President Donald Trump has offered to help find a solution to the war in Ukraine during a nearly 90-minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin said, as diplomatic efforts gathered pace ahead of the Nato summit in Turkey next week.According to Reuters, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Trump made the offer during Saturday’s call, held on US Independence Day, and reaffirmed Washington’s willingness to work towards ending the conflict. Trump also spoke separately with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who later described the conversation as “very good”.Ushakov said Trump “once again confirmed his readiness to work towards a rapid end to the fighting and find solutions to overcome the crisis.”He described the discussion as “business-like and quite constructive”, while saying Russia continued to seek “a political-diplomatic resolution of the conflict” that takes into account Moscow’s “fundamental approach”.
Putin, Zelenskyy present conflicting battlefield narratives
During the call, Putin briefed Trump on what he described as the battlefield situation, claiming Russian forces were “confidently advancing, liberating one locality after another”, as per Reuters.The Russian leader’s remarks came a day after Moscow claimed to have captured the strategically important city of Kostiantynivka in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region. However, Ukraine rejected the assertion.As per news agency AFP, Ukrainian army spokesman Andriy Kovalyov said the city remained under Kyiv’s control, while Zelenskyy dismissed Russia’s claim as “just another Russian lie.”Russia continues to insist any settlement must include Moscow assuming full control of Ukraine’s Donbas region, a demand Kyiv has repeatedly rejected.
Trump envoys to continue mediation efforts
Ushakov said Trump informed Putin that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would continue efforts to broker a settlement and were prepared to make another visit to Moscow.The Kremlin aide also said Putin expressed hope that US diplomatic efforts related to the Iran conflict would help achieve “mutually acceptable long-term solutions” on broader international issues. Putin additionally reminded Trump that he has an open invitation to visit Moscow.Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said his discussion with Trump focused on the 1,200-kilometre front line and diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.“There is a real prospect to end this war and American resolve will have a crucial meaning,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram, according to Reuters. He added that the two leaders agreed to continue their discussions during the Nato summit.
Nato summit and stalled peace talks
Both the Trump-Putin and Trump-Zelenskyy calls also marked the 250th anniversary of US independence and took place ahead of the Nato summit in Ankara, Turkey, where leaders are expected to discuss the Ukraine war.Peace negotiations remain stalled. Zelenskyy had urged Putin last month to hold a one-on-one meeting to discuss ending the war, but the Russian president declined.On the battlefield, despite Moscow’s claims of territorial gains, fighting around Kostiantynivka remains intense, with Ukrainian forces maintaining defensive positions while acknowledging that small Russian groups have infiltrated parts of the city.The city is regarded as a key gateway to the remaining Ukrainian-held strongholds of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk in the Donbas region.
