President Donald Trump announced a breakthrough in U.S.-Iran negotiations while reigniting discussions on ending the Russia-Ukraine war ahead of the upcoming G7 summit. He appears to be leveraging the Iran deal to elevate diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict.
On June 14, local time, Trump, who turned 80 that day, held consecutive phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. These discussions took place just before the G7 summit scheduled for June 15-17 in Évian-les-Bains, France.
Yuri Ushakov, a senior foreign policy advisor to the Kremlin, stated that the call between Trump and Putin lasted approximately 55 minutes. Ushakov noted that Trump emphasized the need to halt the Ukraine war and expressed readiness to exert influence over Europe and Ukraine through the G7 summit.
During his conversation with Putin, Trump reportedly informed him that the U.S.-Iran agreement had been finalized and that an announcement could be forthcoming. Following the call, Trump confirmed on Truth Social that the agreement with Iran was complete, with a memorandum of understanding set to be officially signed in Switzerland on June 19.
There is also a possibility of continued practical engagement with Russia. Ushakov mentioned that Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are expected to visit Russia again soon. The two had previously met with Putin as part of U.S. negotiation efforts.
Trump also spoke with Zelensky on the same day. Zelensky stated that they discussed the war's context, diplomatic solutions, the positions of international partners, and the situation on the battlefield, agreeing to continue discussions at the G7 summit. He expressed gratitude for U.S. military support, noting that Ukraine is in a more favorable position on the battlefield.
Despite the renewed discussions on ending the war, tensions on the battlefield persist. According to Reuters, following the Trump-Putin call, Russia launched large-scale strikes on major Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv and Kharkiv. The UNESCO World Heritage site, the Pechersk Lavra Monastery in Kyiv, was damaged, and approximately 140,000 households experienced power outages.
The gap between Russia and Ukraine's positions remains significant. Ukraine demands an immediate and complete ceasefire, negotiations based on current front lines, and legally binding security guarantees. In contrast, Russia maintains its stance on territorial issues and opposition to Ukraine's NATO membership.
AP reported that Putin criticized Ukraine for attacking Russian civilian infrastructure and demanded a meeting with Zelensky in Moscow.
Trump is highlighting the Iran agreement as a diplomatic success while bringing the Ukraine ceasefire discussions back to the forefront. However, with unresolved issues regarding ceasefire conditions, territorial disputes, and pressure on Russia, it remains uncertain whether the G7 summit will lead to tangible progress in negotiations.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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