US President Donald Trump held phone conversations on July 4, 2026, with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to statements from Kyiv and Moscow.
Zelenskyy described his call with Trump as "very good," congratulating the US on its 250th birthday and discussing the current situation on the front lines of the war in Ukraine. He expressed optimism about a "real prospect" of ending the conflict and said he and Trump agreed to continue talks during the NATO Summit scheduled for July 7–8 in Ankara, Turkey.
The relationship between Zelenskyy and Trump has been marked by fluctuations since Trump's return to the White House, including a notable heated exchange in early 2025.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin announced that Putin also spoke with Trump on the same day. Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov stated that Putin congratulated Trump on the American holiday during a phone call lasting an hour and twenty-five minutes. Ushakov added that the two leaders discussed "the issue of the Ukrainian settlement," particularly in light of Trump's upcoming participation in the NATO summit.
These calls come shortly after Russia launched a major attack on Kyiv earlier in the week, resulting in at least 30 deaths and dozens of injuries.
In related developments, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, speaking from Brussels in June, emphasized the need for Europe to lead in building a revamped "NATO 3.0," describing it as a return to a "real, hardline military alliance" with robust capabilities for deterring threats and defending Europe conventionally.
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