Putin and Zelensky Engage with Trump Ahead of NATO Summit in Ankara

In the days leading up to the NATO summit scheduled in Ankara, two separate phone conversations took place involving U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts.

The Kremlin announced that President Vladimir Putin spoke with President Trump by phone on Saturday, marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. The two leaders discussed the situation in Ukraine ahead of the NATO summit set for July 7 and 8 in Turkey.

Yuri Ushakov, the Russian President’s foreign affairs aide, told the news agency RIA Novosti that "the two presidents naturally addressed the issue of reaching a settlement in Ukraine, especially considering Donald Trump’s anticipated participation in the NATO summit in Turkey on July 7 and 8."

Ushakov added that during the call, which lasted one hour and 25 minutes, the leaders also talked about other international issues including Iran and the Middle East.

Earlier on Saturday evening, Kyiv announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also held a phone conversation with Trump.

Zelensky stated on the platform X, "President Trump and I discussed the current situation on the front line as well as our diplomatic efforts. There is a real possibility to end this war, and America’s determination is decisive."

He further noted, "We agreed to continue these discussions at the NATO summit in Ankara."

Heads of state and delegations from 32 countries, including Trump, are expected to arrive in Ankara on Tuesday to participate in the summit.

Ushakov pointed out that Putin "clarified the actual situation on the battlefield in Ukraine, where Russian armed forces are advancing confidently."

On Friday, the Kremlin announced that the Russian army had taken control of Kostiantynivka in eastern Ukraine, a city considered a fortified stronghold of Ukrainian forces. This city lies on a route leading to the last major cities still under Kyiv’s control in the Donbas region.

However, Kyiv denied that Moscow had captured the strategic city, affirming that its forces still control the area and that fighting continues there.

Diplomatically, negotiations have reached an impasse, with Moscow demanding the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the entire Donetsk region, a condition Kyiv rejects.