Putin offers Ukraine ceasefire as Trump urges resolution

On the occasion of America’s 250th Independence Day, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with former U.S. President Donald Trump, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov. The leaders moved past a simple protocol greeting, focusing on concrete issues related to the Ukraine war and broader bilateral matters.

Putin conveyed that Russian forces are making headway across the entire frontline, while Ushakov criticized European analysts for misunderstanding the real conditions on the ground, resulting in inaccurate narratives about the conflict.

Both presidents highlighted the value of continuous communication on military‑political and economic fronts, stressing that there are significant possibilities for mutually advantageous cooperation. Trump made clear that a swift settlement of the Ukraine conflict would be a key condition for expanding such collaboration.

Ushakov accused Kyiv and its European allies of intensifying the fighting and of resorting to terrorism against civilians. Putin also referenced recent long‑range strikes on Russian oil facilities, which Moscow claims have caused fuel shortages in several areas.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later remarked that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could travel to Moscow for a face‑to‑face meeting with Putin, reiterating the Russian president’s openness to host the Ukrainian leader in the capital.