Russian President Vladimir Putin again Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy each spoke by phone with US President Donald Trump on Sunday, as Trump celebrated his 80th birthday and the war in Ukraine remained a hot topic ahead of this week’s G7 summit.
Putin’s call with Trump lasted less than an hour, according to Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, who told reporters afterward.
In Ukraine, Ushakov said Trump insisted the need to end hostilities and expressed its readiness to influence European allies and Kyiv towards that goal, including at the upcoming G7 summit.
Trump also said that the recent strikes against civilian targets in Russia made it difficult to resolve – although the White House did not confirm that, or comment on the phone – and said that ending the war quickly could open the door to “a really new quality of US-Russian relations,” Ushakov quoted him as saying.
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Putin, on the other hand, said that the attack on the infrastructure of the Russian people by Kyiv will not change Ukraine’s situation on the battlefield, and said that if Zelenskyy wants a meeting with him, “let him go to Moscow,” according to Ushakov.
US Ambassador Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to travel to Russia soon, Ushakov said.
The leaders also discussed Iran, where Trump said the US agreement with Tehran he was close to hoping that the results of the talks would be revealed today, said Ushakov.
Zelenskyy said in a statement on Telegram on Sunday that he had a “good conversation” with Trump.
Apart from congratulating Trump on his birthday, the president of Ukraine said he is grateful to the American president for supporting Ukraine.
He said they discussed what would help bring peace closer now,” without giving details. Zelenskyy also briefed Trump on how Ukraine’s position along the eastern border has improved and strengthened.
“We agreed that we will discuss in detail at our meeting at the G7 summit,” he said.
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The calls came as Trump prepared mark his birthday with a UFC fight on the White House lawn Sunday evening, an event unprecedented in American history. Once finalized, Trump will fly to France overnight for the G7 summit, where Ukraine is expected to be the main topic of discussion on Tuesday and Zelenskyy will join the gathering.
Russia’s war in Ukraine has long frustrated Trump, who has said he could end the conflict within 24 hours of taking office. He has stopped making such claims and tends to shy away from the topic when pressed. He has also grown increasingly irritated by the war between Israel and Iran, which has driven up fuel prices, roiled financial markets and raised concerns about inflation.
Diplomatic talks emerged after further fighting. A Ukrainian airstrike killed one person and injured nine others overnight in a residential building in the capital of Oryol region in Russia, said Gov. Andrei Klychkov on Sunday. Another drone attack killed one person on Sunday in Russia’s Bryansk region, local authorities said.
A separate missile strike hit a fuel storage facility in the Russian city of Yaroslavl, 440 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, sparking fires. Zelenskyy said the strike hit “an important oil facility in the country’s last resort.”
Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russia’s oil and gas infrastructure in recent months, arguing that the sector is funding Moscow’s attacks.
Separately, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Sunday the UK was investigating the Smyrtos rowing boat, which is believed to be owned by the family. Russian ships are “shadow” ships used to avoid sanctions related to war.
British troops boarded and blockaded the ship in the English Channel, in what the Ministry of Defense called the first UK-led operation of its kind, carried out in partnership with French authorities.
“This operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those who are fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that they cannot hide,” Starmer said.
