US President Donald Trump stated on Monday that a resolution to conclude the Russia-Ukraine war, now exceeding four years, is advancing more rapidly than widely understood. He indicated plans to address the Ukraine negotiations during a NATO summit in Turkiye later this week.
The comments followed recent discussions Trump held with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to Reuters. No detailed basis was provided for the assessment that an end to the fighting is near. Overnight, Russian drone and missile strikes hit Kyiv and nearby areas, resulting in 28 deaths.
Trump described his call with Putin on the Fourth of July as productive, noting that progress on the issue appears closer than many realize and that Putin strongly desires an end to the conflict. The conversation lasted 85 minutes and covered US offers to explore peace options, per a Kremlin aide.
The aide reported that Trump reaffirmed readiness to pursue a swift halt to hostilities and solutions to the crisis. On the call with Zelenskyy, Trump said both leaders want the war to conclude and that discussions at the NATO meeting would advance that goal.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated that the US stance on resolving the conflict has stayed consistent. He noted prior agreement between Putin and Trump to maintain contacts soon and dismissed suggestions of shifting views.
Peskov added that Trump remains steady in his approach and open to information from Putin. Zelenskyy, scheduled to meet Trump at the NATO summit in Ankara on Wednesday, called their recent phone discussion very positive. He mentioned Trump acknowledged Ukraine’s success with long-range drone strikes on Russian oil facilities causing fuel shortages.
Zelenskyy observed that Trump seeks association with successful efforts, influenced by factors including upcoming US midterm elections. On the night of July 5-6, Russia launched 68 missiles and 351 drones at Kyiv, striking over 10 sites including residential buildings, hours after Zelenskyy warned of an impending assault.
The focus now shifts to the Ankara meeting and prospects for fulfilling claims of ending the prolonged conflict.
