IRIA News

4 minute read

U.S. President Donald Trump held separate telephone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on July 5, 2026, as diplomatic efforts to address the war in Ukraine continued ahead of the upcoming NATO Summit in Turkey.

The discussions focused on the conflict, ongoing diplomatic initiatives, and the possibility of advancing negotiations to end more than four years of fighting.

According to officials from both Washington and Moscow, Trump spoke with Putin for nearly 90 minutes in what was described as a constructive conversation. During the call, Trump reaffirmed his willingness to support efforts aimed at reaching a peaceful settlement of the conflict.

The discussion comes just days before NATO leaders gather in Turkey, where Ukraine and European security are expected to be among the summit’s top priorities.

Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said Trump expressed his readiness to work toward ending the fighting and finding solutions to overcome the crisis. He added that both leaders discussed continuing diplomatic engagement through U.S. representatives.

Russia also indicated that U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner could continue mediation efforts and may travel to Moscow for further discussions if required.

Putin Outlines Russia’s Position

During the conversation, Putin reiterated Moscow’s position that any settlement should be achieved through political and diplomatic means while taking Russia’s core security interests into account.

Russian officials stated that Putin briefed Trump on the latest battlefield developments, claiming Russian forces continue to make advances in eastern Ukraine. Moscow also maintained that its forces had captured the strategically important city of Kostiantynivka in Ukraine’s Donetsk region.

Ukraine has rejected that claim, saying its military continues to control the city. Russia has consistently maintained that any long-term settlement must include full control of the Donbas region, a position that Kyiv continues to reject.

The two leaders also discussed broader regional developments, including the situation involving Iran and the Middle East.

Zelenskyy Discusses Frontline Situation

Following his conversation with Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the call as “very good” and said both leaders reviewed the current military situation along Ukraine’s approximately 1,200-kilometer frontline.

Zelenskyy said the conversation also covered diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict. “There is a real prospect of ending this war, and American resolve will have a crucial meaning,” Zelenskyy said.

He added that both leaders agreed to continue their discussions during the NATO Summit in Turkey, where heads of state from the alliance are expected to meet in the coming days.

The latest diplomatic contacts come as fighting continues across eastern Ukraine, with both sides offering differing assessments of battlefield developments.

Russia has reported continued territorial gains in the Donetsk region, while Ukraine has disputed several of Moscow’s claims, including the reported capture of Kostiantynivka.

Despite periodic diplomatic contacts, negotiations remain at an impasse. Moscow continues to insist that any agreement must reflect its territorial and security demands, while Ukraine maintains that its sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable.

The differing positions have limited progress toward a negotiated settlement despite continued international diplomatic engagement.

Focus Shifts to NATO Summit

The upcoming NATO Summit is expected to provide another opportunity for discussions on Ukraine and broader European security.

Leaders from the alliance are expected to review military assistance, regional security challenges, and ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.

Trump’s separate conversations with Putin and Zelenskyy underscore continued U.S. involvement in efforts to encourage dialogue between the two sides.

Whether the renewed diplomatic contacts will produce meaningful progress remains uncertain, as both Russia and Ukraine continue to hold fundamentally different positions on the conditions required for ending the war.