WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump held separate telephone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday, officials from all three sides said.
The calls took place as Trump marked his 80th birthday and ahead of a G7 summit in France this week where the conflict in Ukraine is expected to feature prominently. Putin’s call with Trump lasted just under an hour and was described by the Kremlin as friendly and frank, while Zelenskyy’s conversation with Trump lasted about 30 minutes.
Trump congratulated Putin on the call, which also covered bilateral relations between Moscow and Washington as well as the situation in Ukraine, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov. Ushakov said Trump emphasized the need to end the hostilities in Ukraine and expressed readiness to help influence European allies and Kyiv toward that goal.
Zelenskyy said he congratulated Trump on his birthday and that the two leaders had a substantive discussion that included peace efforts. “We talked about what could help to bring peace closer right now, and I updated the president on the latest developments on the battlefield and how our position has strengthened,” Zelenskyy said in a statement.
The conversations come amid ongoing efforts to address the conflict that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Western countries have imposed sanctions on Russia, while providing military and financial support to Ukraine. Russia has relied on its shadow fleet and other measures to sustain its economy and military operations.
Ushakov said the leaders also discussed other international issues, including Iran, and agreed that U.S. envoys would visit Russia in the near future. Details of any specific proposals or agreements from the calls were not immediately released by the White House.
Ukrainian officials described the exchange with Trump as positive and said the two sides would continue discussions at the upcoming G7 summit. Russian officials have not commented publicly on Zelenskyy’s call with Trump.
The calls follow earlier diplomatic activity, including Zelenskyy’s public proposal for direct talks with Putin. Trump has previously stated that both sides would need to make compromises to reach a resolution.
As of Monday, no further details on outcomes from the conversations or next steps had been announced by the White House. The G7 summit is scheduled to begin in France, with Ukraine high on the agenda.
