Donald Trump Proposes Aid in Ending Ukraine Conflict During Call with Putin

Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov has stated that former US President Donald Trump expressed his willingness to assist in finding a way to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. The offer reportedly occurred during a phone call lasting nearly 90 minutes on Saturday, as reported by Ushakov. This conversation took place ahead of the forthcoming NATO summit in Ankara.

Ushakov noted that Trump reaffirmed his readiness to work towards a swift conclusion to the fighting, aiming to identify solutions for the ongoing crisis. He described the discussion between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin as 'businesslike and quite constructive.' According to Ushakov, Russia is seeking a political and diplomatic resolution that acknowledges its fundamental stance on the matter.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also revealed that he spoke with Trump on the same day, where they discussed the significant 1,200-kilometre (745-mile) front line of the conflict. Zelenskyy mentioned in a post on Telegram, 'There is a real prospect to end this war and American resolve will have a crucial meaning.' He confirmed that both leaders agreed to continue their discussions at the NATO summit scheduled for the upcoming week.

A coalition of heads of state from 32 countries, including Trump, are expected to convene in Ankara on July 7 and 8.

In the context of the battlefield, recent months have seen limited progress for both Ukrainian and Russian forces, largely due to the impact of drone warfare that impedes heavy vehicles and inflicts casualties.

Ushakov also accused Kyiv and its European allies of attempting to prolong or escalate the conflict, as well as engaging in acts of terrorism against civilians. His comments refer to Ukraine's long-range strikes on Russian targets, particularly those linked to the oil sector, which have resulted in fuel shortages in various regions of Russia.

Putin has suggested that the reality on the battlefield is one of Russian forces making steady advances. He claimed that Russian troops had secured the strategically significant city of Kostiantynivka in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region. However, on Saturday, Zelenskyy and Ukraine’s General Staff rejected this assertion, stating that Ukrainian forces still maintained control over the city.

Despite previous requests from Zelenskyy for a face-to-face meeting, Putin has thus far declined.

Ushakov indicated that Trump mentioned US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would continue their efforts to mediate a settlement and may revisit Moscow for further discussions. Nonetheless, Ushakov acknowledged that US diplomatic initiatives have faced setbacks as Washington has become preoccupied with its responses to the situation in Iran.

Putin reportedly expressed hope that US engagement in the Iran conflict might lead to mutually acceptable long-term solutions concerning key settlement issues.