Russian President Vladimir Putin told his US counterpart Donald Trump that Moscow would not abandon its objectives in Ukraine, according to a Kremlin statement released following an hour-long phone call between the two leaders. The discussion has dealt a blow to White House hopes of securing a cease-fire in a war now entering its fourth year.
The call, which took place on Thursday, was confirmed by Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, who said that Putin had reaffirmed his intention to “achieve the goals it has set” in Ukraine and “will not abandon them.” The Kremlin characterises these goals as addressing the so-called “root causes” of the conflict — a phrase it routinely uses to refer to NATO enlargement and Ukraine’s Western alignment.
Speaking to journalists ahead of a campaign event in Iowa, Trump acknowledged that he and Putin had discussed both Ukraine and Iran, but admitted there had been “no progress.” The conversation marks the sixth exchange between the two leaders since Trump assumed office in January.
Trump has made ending the conflict in Ukraine a key element of his foreign policy agenda, initiating direct diplomatic outreach to both Kyiv and Moscow within weeks of taking office. These efforts included the dispatch of special envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow for at least three rounds of discussions with senior Russian officials, including Putin. However, Trump’s proposed 30-day cease-fire, which had been accepted by Ukraine, has so far been rejected by the Kremlin.
Analysts suggest that Moscow perceives itself to be in a position of strength and sees little incentive to negotiate. Russian forces have made incremental territorial gains in eastern Ukraine in recent months, accompanied by intensified aerial bombardments. Last month’s advances were described by Ukrainian officials as the most significant since early 2023.
The phone call took place one day after the White House confirmed a pause in the delivery of certain categories of military aid to Ukraine, citing domestic stockpile limitations. The affected systems reportedly include air defence missiles and precision-guided munitions. The decision drew criticism from both sides of the political aisle in Washington. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the move had “shocked” members of Congress and risked emboldening Moscow.
In remarks prior to his departure from Washington, Trump denied the suggestion that aid had been halted entirely. “We are giving weapons, but we’ve given so many… we have to make sure that we have enough for ourselves,” he said. He is expected to raise the matter in a scheduled phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on 4 July.
Despite speculation, Ushakov stated that the topic of the US arms deliveries was not raised during the Putin–Trump call. He said that Putin had instead conveyed continued Russian interest in a negotiated settlement, although no concrete steps were agreed.
Commenting on the exchange, Professor Mikhail Alexseev of San Diego State University said the call had merely confirmed Moscow’s entrenched stance. “Russia’s position is not softening. If anything, it’s hardening,” he said, citing recent remarks by Putin in which he dismissed the idea of Ukrainians as a separate people from Russians. “The Kremlin believes Trump is moving away from Ukraine. If that happens, there’s no reason for Moscow to stop — in fact, it could push harder.”
This view is shared by a number of European and American experts, who argue that only increased military and diplomatic pressure will compel Moscow to negotiate seriously. Zelenskyy, speaking earlier this week in Denmark, again called for stronger Western sanctions against Russia and further weapons deliveries to bolster Ukraine’s position.
Although Putin’s remarks to Trump included an expression of willingness to continue dialogue, his underlying demands remain unchanged. These include Ukrainian neutrality, the formal renunciation of NATO aspirations, and territorial concessions — all of which Kyiv has said are non-negotiable.
Earlier this year, Russian and Ukrainian officials held preliminary talks, the first such contacts since early 2023, but these produced no substantive progress. The Kremlin’s demands continue to cross multiple Ukrainian red lines, making a breakthrough unlikely without a significant shift on the battlefield or in international backing.
The call also touched on regional tensions in the Middle East. Ushakov said Putin had emphasised the need to resolve disputes “exclusively by political and diplomatic means.” The comment follows last month’s US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites — an operation condemned by Moscow as both illegal and destabilising.
As diplomatic manoeuvres continue, there is little to suggest that Thursday’s call brought any closer the prospect of a cease-fire in Ukraine. With Moscow holding firm and US support for Kyiv under increasing scrutiny, the strategic calculus for all parties appears largely unchanged. The coming weeks — particularly Trump’s upcoming conversation with Zelenskyy — may offer further indications as to whether the US administration intends to adjust its approach.
