On June 14, President Donald Trump marked his 80th birthday by holding consecutive phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The discussions come as the issue of ending the Russia-Ukraine war resurfaces ahead of the G7 summit.
According to reports from Reuters and the Russian state news agency TASS, President Putin spoke with Trump for about an hour, during which he congratulated Trump on his birthday and the two leaders discussed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Yuri Ushakov, a foreign policy advisor to the Kremlin, stated, "President Trump emphasized the necessity of halting the war in Ukraine." Trump expressed his readiness to collaborate with relevant parties, including Europe and Ukraine, and mentioned that the issue could be discussed at the G7 summit.
Following the call, Trump posted on Truth Social, stating, "I discussed the Russia-Ukraine war with President Putin and will revisit the matter next week."
President Zelensky also confirmed via social media that he spoke with Trump on the same day. He congratulated Trump on his birthday and discussed battlefield conditions, peace strategies, and the positions of international partners.
Zelensky indicated that he plans to continue discussions with Trump at the G7 summit. His advisor, Dmytro Litvin, noted that the call lasted approximately 30 to 35 minutes, covering topics from birthday wishes to diplomacy, war, and peace.
Recently, Ukraine has intensified long-range attacks on facilities deep within Russian territory, increasing pressure on the battlefield. Ukrainian forces continue to target Russian military supply and logistics sites, claiming to have regained more territory than Russia has occupied in some areas.
The series of calls occurred at a time when discussions about ending the war in Ukraine are gaining traction ahead of the G7 summit. While Trump reaffirmed his intention to engage with both Russian and Ukrainian leaders to facilitate a ceasefire, significant differences remain regarding the conditions for a truce and territorial disputes.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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