Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by telephone with his American counterpart Donald Trump on Saturday to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, the Kremlin announced, specifying that the two leaders had discussed the situation in Ukraine before the NATO summit in Ankara.
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“The presidents naturally addressed the question of a settlement in Ukraine, taking into account in particular the upcoming participation of Donald Trump at the NATO summit in Turkey, on July 7 and 8,” said Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlin diplomatic advisor, quoted by the Ria Novosti news agency.
According to him, during this 1h25 call, the two leaders also discussed other international issues, such as the situation around Iran and in the Middle East.
Earlier, on Saturday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also announced that he spoke by telephone with Donald Trump on the occasion of the anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a joint press conference with the German Chancellor, in Berlin, August 13, 2025.
AFP
“President Trump and I discussed the current situation on the front lines as well as our diplomatic efforts. There is a real prospect of ending this war and America’s determination is decisive,” Mr. Zelensky said on his social networks.
“We agreed to continue these discussions at the NATO summit in Ankara,” he continued.
Heads of state and delegations from 32 countries, including Donald Trump, are expected in Ankara from Tuesday for this Atlantic Alliance summit.
Mr. Putin “painted the picture of the real situation on the battlefield (in Ukraine), where the Russian armed forces are advancing with confidence,” said Kremlin advisor Yuri Ushakov.
The Kremlin claimed Friday the capture of the Ukrainian town of Kostyantynivka, a stronghold of Kyiv forces in the eastern Donetsk region whose capture is the Kremlin’s main objective.
But this announcement was firmly denied by kyiv, which affirmed that its troops still controlled this city and that the fighting continued there.
On one front, Russian forces have made almost no progress in recent months due in particular to the omnipresence of drones which hamper the movements of heavy vehicles and inflict very heavy losses on both camps.
On the diplomatic level, negotiations are at an impasse, with Moscow demanding the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the entire Donetsk region, which Kyiv refuses.
