U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking to Russian leader Vladimir Putin by telephone for nearly 90 minutes, offered to help find a solution to the Ukraine war, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said in comments made public early on Sunday.
Ushakov said Trump made the offer during the call on Saturday, U.S. Independence Day, in the context of his participation next week at the NATO summit in Turkey.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he also spoke to Trump.
"The American president once again confirmed his readiness to work towards a rapid end to the fighting and find solutions to overcome the crisis," Ushakov said of Trump's call with the Russian president.
Ushakov, who described the conversation as "business-like and quite constructive," said Russia sought "a political-diplomatic resolution of the conflict, with due account of Russia's fundamental approach."
Ushakov accused Kyiv and its European allies of "counting on extending and even escalating the conflict, and on terrorism against civilians."
He was referring to Ukraine's long-range strikes on Russian targets, mainly linked to the oil industry, which have triggered fuel shortages in several Russian regions.
Ushakov said Putin "depicted the real situation on the battlefield where the Russian armed forces are confidently advancing, liberating one locality after another."
Russian commanders told Putin on Friday that Moscow's troops had captured the strategically important city of Kostiantynivka in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region.
On Saturday, Zelenskyy and Ukraine's General Staff dismissed that claim, saying Kyiv's forces still controlled the city.
Russia has said any solution must include Moscow assuming full control over Ukraine's Donbas region.
Ukraine rejects that assertion and Zelenskyy urged Putin last month to hold a one-on-one meeting with him, but the Kremlin leader refused.
Ushakov quoted Trump as saying that Washington's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, would keep trying to broker a settlement and were prepared to make another visit to Moscow.
U.S. diplomatic efforts have virtually stalled as Washington is focused on the war with Iran.
Ushakov said Putin expressed hope during the conversation that U.S. diplomatic efforts in the Iran conflict would "allow for mutually acceptable long-term solutions to be found on key issues of a settlement."
Ushakov said Putin also reminded Trump that he had an open invitation to visit Moscow.
Zelenskyy, writing on his Telegram account, described his conversation with the U.S. president as "very good," including a discussion on the war's 1,200-km (746-mile) front line.
"There is a real prospect to end this war and American resolve will have a crucial meaning," he said. Zelenskyy said he and Trump agreed to continue discussions at the NATO meeting.
© Thomson Reuters 2026.
23 Comments
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HopeSpringsEternal
Great idea to get Ukraine madness stopped ASAP, Russia can never lose, as they're far larger and nuclear armed and historically, they've always prevailed in Ukraine if foreigners attempt to threat Moscow/Kremlin
Trump has his hands full with Iran now, but assuming the MOU is realized, Ukraine will soon follow.
Battlefield is also clearly in Russia's favor, below a good mapping service, Ukraine steadily losing territory, lacks manpower and logistics, drones only do so much.
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/36a7f6a6f5a9448496de641cf64bd375
HopeSpringsEternal
All mapping services, like above from ISW and Critical Threats, agree with Putin, that Russia's steadily pushing west in eastern Ukraine, that strongholds being overrun
isabelle
The solution is to stop appeasing the aggressor Putin, and give the Ukrainian people what they need to expel his murderous war criminals from Ukrainian sovereign lands.
Putin started it; Putin is continuing it; and Putin can end it -- right now.
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
They can and they are.
So was the US in Vietnam and Afghanistan. How did that work out?
Therefore, so has Ukraine.
I doubt it.
You do realize the yellow in the map is what Russia claims, but not confirmed right?
The ISW (where this map comes from) has said that this year has been the slowest progress so far, much slower than 2025, which was already exceedingly slow.
Akula
Ukraine has caused havoc with Russia's logistics, and who would have thought there would ever be an oil shortage in Russia? Putin can't win and things are starting to unravel domestically. Will Putin offer anything substantive in negotiations to get the Ukrainians to agree to a ceasefire? I think unlikely.
Underworld
Ah, so Putin is again asking Trump to get Ukraine to surrender.
He is getting desperate.
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
This is what the ISW say:
Russia’s spring-summer 2026 offensive has failed to achieve operationally significant gains thus far, and Russian forces’ rate of advance in June 2026 is a fraction of the rate of advance that Russian forces achieved in June 2025.
Russian forces’ main territorial gains have been in Russia’s main effort area near Kostyantynivka in Donetsk Oblast, where Russian forces have achieved slow tactical gains at high costs in the city’s urban environs.
So, not quite the narrative you were suggesting.
HopeSpringsEternal
Anyone honest who looks at the war maps and trends, like above link from ISW and Critical Threats knows Ukraine has no manpower to retake any meaningful territory, Pres. Trump and Putin both know this reality.
The drones are not enough for Ukraine to prevail, and Russia is focused on strongholds, not territories, because this is where Ukraine drone operator imbed. Without strongholds, Ukraine's drone warfare collapses
Torquemada
It will be interesting to see what approach the Trump administration will take going forward, and if it will any way differ from last year's attempts.
Putin appears to be hoping that it will be more of the same. Zelensky will try to persuade Trump that he has cards.
Either way, I don't think Trump will do much of consequence with the Iran war being very far from settled.
stormcrow
Trump to Putin: Where should I kiss it to make you feel better?
Mr Kipling
He said/ she said? However, independent war mappers all agree that Kostiantynivka is now firmly in Russian control. Lyman has been entered and surrounded on 3 sides.
Underworld
Mr Kipling
On Saturday, Zelenskyy and Ukraine's General Staff dismissed that claim, saying Kyiv's forces still controlled the city.
ISW, the most reliable, doesn't. Nor does Deep State Map.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Well of course, Trump is always happy to deliver Putin's surrender terms... again.
TaiwanIsNotChina
I think that photo sums the situation up perfectly: dopey Trump says "Yes, sir!!!".
okinawarides
Ah, so Putin is again asking Trump to get Ukraine to surrender."
You read that backwards...Trump offered Putin...see above.
Trump hate has been making it difficult for many to focus properly.
okinawarides
U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking to Russian leader Vladimir Putin by telephone for nearly 90 minutes, offered to help find a solution to the Ukraine war..
Good to hear that. Trump administration refocus on bringing peace to Ukraine is urgently needed. The MIC and it's propaganda team will try to resist and do all it can to belittle and scuttle Trump admin peace efforts.
This war has gone on for far too long.
okinawarides
That is true, Moscow has a problem with the UA long range drones.
. Will Putin offer anything substantive in negotiations to get the Ukrainians to agree to a ceasefire? I think unlikely.
Hard to know but it's good to see Trump admin refocusing on helping to find peace. Let's hope the offer us genuine.
What a trolling comment.
Not at all. Both Republicans and Democrats presented their candidates and US voters made their choice in November .Why so oversensitive about facts suddenly.
ClippetyClop
I’d love to see Trump and Vance set up another Oval Office ambush, only for Zelensky to whip out a deck of cards, spray them everywhere then leave.
So has your fawning support for it.
Have you decided to not be an American again?
TaiwanIsNotChina
Are you sure that isn't just what Trump and foreign assets want us to believe?
Underworld
okinawarides
Ah, so Putin is again asking Trump to get Ukraine to surrender."
It’s not backwards. Trump didn’t reach out to Putin, Putin desperately called Trump asking for help in getting Ukrainian territory.
Will Putin offer anything substantive in negotiations to get the Ukrainians to agree to a ceasefire? I think unlikely.
For anyone paying attention, it is easy to know. If you listen to Putin’s recent comments, he has no intention of pursuing peace.
joe fronckowiak
...look... Putin... these people are losers... they don't work... don't have homes... and aren't very smart. They live in rubble... who does that. Forget these losers. Tell you what I'm gonna do. There's this waterfront property in Gaza...
Bordeaux
Anything to distract from the Epstein files and his 12-year old accuser.
Kuku
Russia is ready to carry out a humanitarian action to transfer the bodies of dead Ukrainian servicemen in Konstantinovka, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
From 12.00 to 18.00 Moscow time on July 6, the Ukrainian side is invited to stop the shelling of the city and hold an action to transfer the bodies of the dead servicemen.