Putin, Zelenskiy chat with Trump on his 80th birthday
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy spoke by phone with Donald Trump, who celebrated his 80th birthday, as the war in Ukraine remained a flashpoint ahead of this week’s G7 summit.
Putin’s meeting with Trump lasted less than an hour, according to Russian vice president Yuri Ushakov, who briefed reporters afterward.
Zelenskiy’s advisor Dmytro Lytvyn had previously told reporters that the meeting lasted about 30 minutes.
On Ukraine, Ushakov said Trump emphasized the need to end hostilities and expressed readiness to influence European allies and Kiev towards that goal, including at the upcoming G7 summit.
Trump also said that recent attacks on civilian targets in Russia complicated the solution — but the White House did not confirm this or comment on the call — and said a quick end to the war could open the door to “a truly new quality in U.S.-Russia relations,” Ushakov quoted him as saying.
Putin, on the other hand, argued that Kiev’s attacks on Russian civilian infrastructure would not change Ukraine’s position on the battlefield and, according to Ushakov, said that if Zelenskiy wanted to meet with him, “he should come to Moscow.”
US envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to travel to Russia soon, Ushakov said.
Ushakov said the leaders also discussed Iran, where Trump said a U.S. deal with Tehran was close and he hoped the results of the talks would be made public today.
Zelenskiy said in a statement on Telegram on Sunday that he had a “great conversation” with Trump.
Beyond congratulating Trump on his birthday, the Ukrainian president said he thanked the U.S. president for supporting Ukraine.
He said they were discussing “what could help bring peace closer now,” without providing details. Zelenskiy also briefed Trump on how Ukraine’s position on the eastern front is developing and strengthening.
“We agreed at our meeting at the G7 summit to have further discussions,” he said.
The calls come as Trump prepares to celebrate his birthday Sunday evening on the White House lawn with an Ultimate Fighting Championship fight unique in American history.
Once the meeting ends, Trump will fly overnight to France for the G7 summit on Tuesday, where Ukraine is expected to be the main topic of discussion and where Zelenskiy will also attend the meeting.
Russia’s war in Ukraine has long frustrated Trump, who as a candidate claimed he could end the conflict within 24 hours of taking office.
He has since stopped making such claims and tends to shy away from the subject when pressed.
He has also become increasingly disturbed by the war between Israel and Iran, which has driven up gas prices, rattled financial markets and raised concerns about inflation.
Diplomatic contacts took place against the background of ongoing conflicts.
One person was killed and nine others were injured in Ukraine’s overnight drone strikes on a residential building in the capital of Russia’s Oryol region, Governor Andrei Klychkov said Sunday.
Another drone strike killed one person in Russia’s Bryansk region on Sunday, local officials said.
A separate drone strike hit fuel storage facilities in Russia’s Yaroslavl region, about 708.1 km from the Ukrainian border, sparking fires.
Zelenskiy said the attack hit “an oil facility that is important for the aggressor state’s reserves.”
Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russian oil and gas infrastructure in recent months, arguing that the sector is financing Moscow’s invasion.
with dpa
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