Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
The call happened just days after US decided to halt certain deliveries of military aid to Ukraine.
Trump is going to talk to Ukrainian PM Zelenskyy next.
What is happening?
US President Donald Trump expressed frustration following a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, revealing that he saw no signs of Putin being ready to end the war in Ukraine.
“I don’t think he’s looking to stop,” Trump said according to Reuters, describing the talk as discouraging.
US Diplomatic Efforts Hit a Wall
Despite ongoing efforts, US diplomacy to bring about peace in Ukraine has stalled. Calls are growing—some even from within Trump’s own Republican Party—for him to take a tougher stance on Putin and push harder for meaningful negotiations.
No Progress, No Promises
Speaking with reporters after his Iowa trip, Trump admitted that the nearly hour-long call with Putin yielded no breakthroughs.
“I didn’t make any progress with him at all,” he said, underscoring the deep freeze in diplomatic movement.
Explosions in Kyiv Hours After the Call
Mere hours after Trump and Putin spoke, Ukraine reported a Russian drone strike that ignited a fire in a Kyiv suburb.
Simultaneously, the capital endured explosions and machine-gun fire as air defenses countered more drone attacks.
Trump to Speak with Zelenskyy Next
Trump announced plans to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shortly after the Putin call.
Zelenskyy, meanwhile, voiced concern over a pause in US arms shipments and said he hoped to address it directly with Trump.
Confusion Over U.S. Weapons Flow
Trump insisted the US hasn’t entirely stopped sending weapons to Ukraine but criticized President Joe Biden for depleting American stockpiles.
“We’re giving weapons… but Biden emptied out our whole country,” Trump claimed.
Ukraine Caught Off Guard by Arms Freeze
The abrupt halt in some US weapons deliveries has left Ukrainian officials scrambling.
Kyiv reportedly summoned the acting U.S. envoy to stress the critical need for continued military support amid escalating Russian attacks.
Putin Blames NATO, Demands ‘Root Causes’ Be Addressed
Putin continues to link peace prospects to broader geopolitical issues—namely, NATO expansion and Western backing of Ukraine.
He insists Russia won’t halt its offensive unless these “root causes” are resolved to Moscow’s satisfaction.
Russia Avoids Three-Way Peace Talks
Russian officials are pushing back against tripartite peace negotiations involving the US. preferring bilateral talks with Ukraine.
In one incident, they asked American diplomats to exit a meeting in Istanbul, according to Ukrainian officials.
Future of US-Russia Talks Remains Unclear
While Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed Russia’s willingness to keep talking, there were no discussions about a direct, in-person meeting between Trump and Putin.
