President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone for an hour as the White House accelerates efforts to broker a peace deal in Ukraine. According to Putin's foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, the conversation was "constructive and quite frank," focusing primarily on the direction of Russia's military campaign and the prospects for future battlefield advances.
Ushakov told reporters that Putin conducted "an objective and thorough analysis" of Russia's so-called special military operation and explained how its objectives could be achieved. He also reportedly tried to allay Western fears that Moscow might escalate attacks in Europe, including against NATO members. Ushakov said, "It was emphasized that we have no aggressive plans for Europe."
The White House did not respond to a request for comment on the call. The talks follow a visit to the region by two US special envoys – Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff – who met separately with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last weekend. Trump presented the envoys with a "proposal to end the war," as part of his administration's efforts to reach a settlement in Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II.
Ushakov said that during the call, Putin and Trump discussed the results of the envoys' visit and exchanged views on their proposals. He added that "some very good, workable ideas" were reportedly presented.
Speaking after the envoys' visit, Zelensky thanked Trump for allowing the delegation to visit Ukraine despite the fighting. He said it was important for Kushner and Witkoff to meet with the Ukrainian leadership and emphasized Ukraine's desire to end the war. The envoys' visit included a short, temporary break in hostilities to facilitate negotiations.
Despite mutual approval for meetings, the talks yielded no immediate breakthrough. After a brief ceasefire over the weekend, both sides resumed military operations. Ukrainian officials reported that at least five civilians were killed and 25 others injured in Russian attacks in Kyiv on Tuesday morning. Russian officials said three people were killed and 13 injured in the Bryansk and Kursk regions. Local authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea reported approximately five deaths in Ukrainian attacks.
The conflict began in February 2022 when Russia launched a massive invasion of Ukraine, disrupting life across the region and drawing global condemnation. Since then, the battlefield has repeatedly shifted advantage and disadvantage, while civilian casualties and infrastructure damage have mounted.
Ending the war has been a stated priority for Trump while campaigning for a second term, and he has repeatedly vowed to reach a quick agreement. During the campaign, he once claimed he could resolve the war within 24 hours, a statement he later dismissed as exaggerated. Trump has also criticized the extent of US support for Ukraine, arguing that arms supplies to the country have strained US missile stocks and the country's finances. Critics have argued that other US actions, particularly pressure on Iran, have contributed to the arms shortage. Trump's relationship with Ukraine and its leader has been relatively good compared to his relationship with Putin. The two presidents have spoken frequently, and last year Trump invited Putin to Alaska—Putin's first visit to the United States since 2015. The Trump administration's approach to negotiating an end to the fighting has been criticized for allegedly sidelining Ukrainian and European officials in the peace process.
Despite tensions and criticism, both Kyiv and Washington have engaged in diplomacy aimed at ending the war. Ukrainian officials expect a meeting between Trump and Zelensky later this month. For Ukraine, any negotiations must balance efforts to stop the fighting and protect sovereignty and territorial integrity; for Russia, public statements consistently emphasize military objectives and deny plans to attack other European countries. As diplomatic activity intensifies, battlefield violence and civilian casualties continue to shape the urgency and complexity of any potential agreement.
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