Ukraine War · updated 2h ago · 3 min read
Putin and Trump Hold Constructive, Frank Call on Ending Ukraine War, Kremlin Says
Putin and Trump held a frank, constructive phone call on the Ukraine war. They discussed US envoy visits to Moscow and Kyiv and possible settlement terms.
Whether talks produced concrete next steps.
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TRT World
“White House confirming substantive next steps will be unveiled in the coming weeks.”Read the original ↗
TRT World foregrounds future substantive steps, while Deutsche Welle stresses the lack of any breakthrough after the talks.
Phone call after envoys
Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump held a "constructive and frank" hour-long telephone call, the Kremlin said, with Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov telling reporters that Trump stressed his wish for the war in Ukraine to end as soon as possible.
“The conversation was "constructive and frank" and lasted exactly one hour”
Ushakov said the presidents discussed the outcome of U.S. peace negotiators' recent visit to Moscow and Kyiv and that Putin told Trump what the U.S. could do to help end the conflict more quickly.
The Kremlin said the call also covered humanitarian issues, including prisoner exchanges, and that the leaders agreed to remain in contact.
The phone call followed a meeting in Moscow between Putin and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, which the Kremlin described as "extremely frank" and which the White House said would lead to substantive next steps unveiled in the coming weeks.
Ushakov said the American representatives "prepared thoroughly for this trip" and put forward ideas on possible routes to a settlement during their three-hour exchange in Moscow.
Kyiv talks, air attack
In Kyiv, Witkoff told reporters the discussions were "very meaningful" and that the talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were "substantive [and] important," while Kushner told Zelenskyy that Trump asked him to convey that he sees the problem as "a very, very hard and complex problem, but it's a very worthy problem worth solving."
Zelenskyy thanked the United States for continued support and said, "After the meetings in the Russian Federation, it was very important for us to have President Trump's chief negotiators in Ukraine today," as the envoys arrived from Poland by train and were welcomed outside Saint Sophia Cathedral.
The Independent placed the phone call in a wider context of violence, saying it came after at least three people were killed and 10 injured in a major Russian air attack on Kyiv, which Volodymyr Zelensky said Moscow tried to "cause as much harm to life as possible".
The Independent also quoted Zelensky describing the attack using "ballistic missiles, cruise and anti-ship missiles, and jet-powered 'shaheds'" and adding, "There is significant damage to residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure in the capital."
BBC coverage described the talks as rich in symbolism but said fundamental differences remain, noting that Zelensky insisted Ukraine would require "strong and clear" security guarantees, including a strong army.
Conditions, winter stakes
In Moscow, Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said Putin told the U.S. envoys it was necessary to eliminate "all root causes of the Ukrainian conflict," while also noting the "successes of Russian forces" and expressing confidence in achieving goals.
“eliminate "all root causes of the Ukrainian conflict"”
Deutsche Welle reported that after talks in Kyiv, Kushner acknowledged the challenge and said the U.S. was working "behind the scenes" to create conditions for a possible deal, while also noting that Moscow and Kyiv remain divided over territorial concessions.D
Zelenskyy said the discussions focused on military aid, including Patriot missile systems, and he warned, "If the war drags on until winter — and that is how things currently look — we will need a 'winter package'," as Deutsche Welle said Kyiv sought "serious volumes" of U.S. support backed by European partners.D
PBS (AP) said Zelenskyy held three rounds of talks in Kyiv and that the last round brought in national security advisers from the United Kingdom, France and Germany, with the talks covering air defense needs and a "winter package" of support covering both air defense and energy infrastructure.
The BBC added that Zelensky thanked the U.S. envoys because a short-term pause in air strikes agreed by both sides gave people of Kyiv "a brief respite," while also saying few expect it to last for long.