IRIA News

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U.S. President Donald Trump held separate phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on June 14, 2026, discussing the ongoing war in Ukraine and prospects for future peace negotiations as fighting continues on the ground.

According to Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov, Trump’s conversation with Putin lasted around 55 minutes. During the call, Trump reportedly stressed the importance of ending the conflict and expressed his willingness to support efforts aimed at achieving a settlement.

Ushakov said Trump indicated he was prepared to encourage both Kyiv and Washington’s European partners to pursue diplomatic solutions, while Putin reiterated Russia’s position that military pressure would not alter Moscow’s objectives.

The Kremlin also claimed that Putin told Trump that Ukrainian strikes on civilian infrastructure inside Russia would not change the situation on the battlefield. Russian officials further stated that if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wished to hold direct talks, he should come to Moscow.

The two sides also reportedly discussed future contacts between Russian and American representatives, with additional meetings expected in the coming weeks.

Trump Holds Call with Zelenskyy

Later on Sunday, Trump spoke by telephone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a conversation that lasted roughly 30 to 35 minutes, according to Ukrainian presidential communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn.

The discussion focused on the war, ongoing diplomatic efforts, and possible avenues toward peace negotiations. Lytvyn also said Zelenskyy congratulated Trump on his birthday during the call.

I have just had a great conversation with @POTUS. I congratulated President Trump on his birthday, and we have had quite a detailed discussion about many key things – peace, surely, was among them. I wished President Trump every success, above all in his work to end Russia’s war… pic.twitter.com/VKqPh80olB

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 14, 2026

Although neither side released detailed information about the conversation, the separate calls with both Moscow and Kyiv suggest continued U.S. engagement with the conflict despite the absence of any immediate breakthrough.

Ukraine Launches Drone Attacks on Russian Industrial Sites

The diplomatic contacts came as Ukraine carried out another wave of long-range drone strikes targeting industrial facilities inside Russia.

Russian authorities said air defenses intercepted hundreds of aerial targets overnight, including drones approaching the Moscow region. Officials in several regions reported attacks on industrial infrastructure, with fires breaking out at some locations.

Reports on social media suggested that the Asot chemical plant, one of Russia’s largest chemical production facilities, may have been struck during the attacks. While the footage has not been independently verified, local authorities confirmed that debris from intercepted drones landed within the site.

Officials in the Yaroslavl region also reported drone attacks affecting fuel storage infrastructure, though no casualties were reported.

Ukraine has increasingly used long-range drones to target facilities linked to Russia’s military and logistics network, seeking to disrupt production and supply chains supporting Moscow’s war effort.

United Kingdom Targets Russia’s Shadow Fleet

Separately, the United Kingdom announced that British forces intercepted the sanctioned oil tanker SMYRTOS while it was transiting the English Channel.

According to the British government, Royal Marine Commandos and officers from the National Crime Agency boarded the vessel in what officials described as the first UK-led operation of its kind against a tanker associated with Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.

Western governments allege that Russia uses these vessels to transport oil while circumventing international sanctions imposed following the invasion of Ukraine. The revenue generated from these shipments is viewed by many Western governments as an important source of funding for Moscow’s war effort.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the successful operation delivered another blow to Russia’s ability to finance the conflict and demonstrated that efforts to enforce sanctions would continue.

War Continues Despite Diplomatic Activity

The latest developments highlight the contrast between renewed diplomatic engagement and continued military operations.

While Trump’s separate conversations with Putin and Zelenskyy indicate ongoing efforts to encourage negotiations, both sides remain actively engaged in combat. Drone attacks, missile strikes, and battlefield operations continue across the region, underscoring the significant challenges facing any future peace process.

For now, diplomacy and warfare are unfolding in parallel, with no indication that hostilities will end in the immediate future despite increasing international efforts to promote dialogue.