Trump tells Putin he is ready to help end Ukraine conflict, Kremlin adviser says

U.S. President Donald Trump told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday that ending the war in Ukraine was essential and that he was prepared to help facilitate efforts toward a resolution, according to Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov.

Ushakov said the two leaders spoke for 55 minutes and also discussed broader diplomatic developments, including what Trump described as a potential near-term agreement related to the conflict involving Iran.

Regarding Ukraine, Ushakov said Trump emphasized that a cessation of hostilities was “vital” and expressed willingness to work with European partners and Kyiv on possible negotiations, including discussions expected at the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit in the French resort town of Evian.

Trump also suggested that a swift resolution to the conflict could “open perspectives for a new quality of U.S.-Russian relations,” Ushakov said.

Putin, according to Ushakov, responded that intensified Ukrainian strikes on Russian targets would not alter the situation on the battlefield. He also said that European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy would likely present proposals at Evian that could, in Moscow’s view, prolong the conflict rather than end it.

In Washington, the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the call.

Zelenskiy has previously said that recent strikes and battlefield momentum in Ukraine’s favor could create a window for renewed diplomatic efforts toward a peace settlement.

Ushakov also said that U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who have been involved in U.S.-brokered discussions aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, are expected to make another visit to Russia in the near future.

Diplomatic efforts have slowed in recent weeks, as Washington has also been focused on tensions involving Iran.

On that issue, Ushakov said Trump told Putin that an agreement was “close” and that he expected the results of difficult but ultimately successful negotiations to be made public soon.

Putin, he added, welcomed the prospect of progress, saying the conflict “that was liable to inflame not only the region itself can, by all accounts, be stopped.”

Ushakov also said Putin offered informal birthday congratulations to Trump on his 80th birthday and praised First Lady Melania Trump for her efforts related to family reunification initiatives connected to the war in Ukraine. -Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Paul Simao/Reuters