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Trump pushes talks
US President Donald Trump said that both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin want to end the war, telling reporters, "They both want it resolved now," while alluding to Russia's war against Ukraine.
Trump said, "Erdogan is helping us solve this," as Zelensky appealed in Ankara for Ukraine to be allowed to join NATO and asked at the Defense Industry Forum, "Ukraine belongs to NATO."
Zelensky highlighted Ukraine's adaptability and its ability to strike deep inside Russia, saying Ukrainian armed forces are "eliminated" an average of 30.000 Russian soldiers every month.
Le Monde reported that Trump spoke with Putin and Zelensky on Saturday, July 4, to discuss the conflict in Ukraine ahead of a NATO summit in Ankara, citing Kremlin and Zelensky statements.
The Kremlin's foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said the presidents addressed "the issue of a settlement in Ukraine" in light of Trump's participation in the NATO summit on July 7 and 8, according to RIA Novosti.
Frontline and diplomacy
Le Monde reported that Putin "outlined the actual situation on the battlefield (in Ukraine), where Russian armed forces are advancing confidently," while also saying negotiations are at an impasse.
The same report said Moscow demands the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the entire Donetsk region, a demand Kyiv rejects, as the conflict continues into its fourth year.
Le Monde also described Russian forces making almost no progress in recent months, largely due to drones that hinder the movement of heavy vehicles and inflict heavy losses on both sides.
In a separate account, Anadolu Ajansı quoted Trump at the White House saying, "Well, I think he (Putin) is feeling pressure," and adding that Ukraine and Russia both want the war to end.
Anadolu Ajansı also said Trump told reporters, "We will go to the NATO summit and we will talk about it," as Ukraine was expected to be among the main topics with NATO allies in Ankara.
NATO summit stakes
The NATO summit opens this Tuesday, July 7, in Ankara, Turkey, with support for Ukraine expected to dominate discussions, according to ladepeche.fr.
The analysis said Trump’s presence adds uncertainty and that he is due to meet Zelensky to discuss ways to end the war, described as a "long-standing priority" by a senior American official.
ladepeche.fr cited Yuri Ushakov saying the presidents addressed "the question of a settlement in Ukraine" taking into account Trump's participation on July 7 and 8, and it said "There could be a ceasefire process."
The analysis quoted Jérôme Pellistrandi saying, "Ukraine can obtain guarantees at the end of this summit if Donald Trump succeeds in pressuring Vladimir Putin," linking any outcome to what Moscow accepts.
It also framed the stakes around security guarantees for Ukraine, a prospect of membership in the European Union, and an end to the strikes, while noting Pellistrandi’s question of whether Trump will arrive with a harsher posture or a stance of conciliation and compromise.
