Donald Trump holds separate telephone conversations with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy

On July 4, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump held separate phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine. The talks occurred ahead of the NATO summit scheduled for July 7-8 in Ankara, where leaders from 32 countries will convene. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov stated that the 90-minute call with Putin was constructive, with Trump expressing willingness to help find a solution to the crisis. Conversely, Zelenskyy noted on Telegram that he and Trump discussed the situation along the 1,200-kilometer front line and emphasized the importance of U.S. determination in ending the conflict. While Moscow claims its forces are advancing, independent confirmation of battlefield shifts remains limited. Ushakov accused Ukraine of escalating tensions through long-range strikes on Russian fuel infrastructure, a claim not addressed by the Ukrainian side. Diplomats Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to continue mediation efforts, while the parties agreed to follow up on these discussions at the Ankara summit.