Trump separate – President Donald Trump held separate phone calls with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday, signaling renewed diplomatic efforts while the war’s frontline reality and competing claims about territory continued to shift on the ground.
President Donald Trump spoke separately with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday—one call focused on Moscow’s view of bilateral engagement, the other on Kyiv’s frontline and its plea that Washington’s support could help close the war.
Trump’s conversation with Putin lasted nearly 90 minutes, according to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry issued Sunday. The Kremlin-linked account said the discussion was “not only protocol-related. but also businesslike and highly constructive.” Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov’s statement said it enabled a “frank discussion of current issues on the bilateral and international agenda.”.
In that same statement. Trump “once again confirmed his readiness to facilitate the earliest possible cessation of hostilities and the search for peaceful solutions to overcome the crisis.” The statement added that Special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would continue mediation efforts and “be ready to visit Moscow at a convenient time.”.
Ushakov also said the presidents emphasized the “importance of continuing contacts,” including on “military-political and, of course, economic issues.”
The second call—between Trump and Zelenskyy—came the same day, with Zelenskyy saying they discussed the “current situation on the frontline as well as our diplomatic efforts.”
Zelenskyy thanked the United States for assistance “from Javelins and Patriots to political support. ” and he framed the relationship as more than transactional. “We deeply value that America stands by us in defending our independence,” he said. He added, “there is a real prospect to put an end to this war, and America’s resolve is decisive.”.
Zelenskyy said his discussions with Trump would continue at the NATO Summit in Turkey, set for Tuesday and Wednesday. NATO leaders will meet in Ankara, where Zelenskyy—while Ukraine is not a NATO member—will join them. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. speaking at an event last month. said he expects NATO to show Zelenskyy “and all Ukrainians that our support endures.”.
Rutte also used the summit context to press Moscow, saying he is “afraid of implementing” commitments made during the last summit. He said the year’s summit will be a success if Moscow gets the message that if it makes “a silly move” against NATO, the alliance is ready to defend itself.
U.S.-Ukrainian diplomacy is being woven into the summit schedule in clear steps. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly confirmed the upcoming meeting with Zelensky. as well as one with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. in a call with reporters on Sunday. A senior U.S. official told reporters that Trump will speak to Zelenskyy about how to bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end. and that Trump is expected to follow up with Putin after meeting Zelenskyy at the NATO summit.
Even as phone calls and summit talk were in motion, the war’s narrative remained contested. Over the weekend, Russia claimed it took control of Kostyantynivka in Donetsk, a claim Zelenskyy denied. On X. Zelenskyy called it “just another Russian lie. an attempt to generate some kind of a news story.” He challenged the logic of Putin’s position by writing that if Kostyantynivka were under Russian control. “then perhaps Putin would have no problem meeting me there to find a diplomatic way to finally end this war.” “But the fact is. he won’t cross the front line — reality is very different from Putin’s words. ” Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian military. through statements relayed to CNN. said that while small groups of Russian soldiers infiltrated Kostyantynivka. counter-sabotage operations in the town were still happening. “Ukrainian defenders continue to hold their positions along designated lines,” the Ukrainian military said.
There were also reports of strikes beyond the immediate land dispute. Ukrainian drones struck an oil terminal in St. Petersburg on Saturday. On Sunday, Russian-installed Gov. Sergei Aksyonov said on Telegram that one person was killed in northern Crimea after an attack by Ukraine. and that two other people were injured. with one in critical condition. He did not provide any other details about the attack.
The sequence—separate calls with Putin and Zelenskyy. the promise of “the earliest possible cessation of hostilities. ” and the expectation that Trump will move from NATO talks to further contact with Moscow—now sits beside the battlefield claims that continue to clash in public. Even small differences in who holds a town can shape what diplomacy looks like in the hours and days after a phone call. when both sides are trying to set the terms for the next meeting.
Donald Trump Vladimir Putin Volodymyr Zelenskyy NATO summit Ankara Ukraine Russia-Ukraine war Steve Witkoff Jared Kushner Yuri Ushakov Mark Rutte Recep Tayyip Erdogan Anna Kelly Kostyantynivka Javelins Patriots
Why is he calling Putin at all, like what are we doing.
So he talked to both of them separately… that sounds like mediation but also like PR. The headline makes it seem super hopeful, but the war is still going so idk.
Isn’t this the part where Putin just says “businesslike” and then nothing changes? Like they’ll “facilitate cessation” while the tanks keep moving. Also I saw Javelins and Patriots and thought that meant they’re already winning or something… then I remember, no, it’s not like that.
Kushner and Witkoff again? I swear every time someone says “peaceful solutions” it’s followed by more weapons. And Zelenskyy thanking us is good, but it also feels like Trump is trying to play both sides, like he’s the middle man in a sales deal. Putin saying it’s “highly constructive” is not exactly comforting.