On the eve of a crucial NATO summit in Turkey, US President Donald Trump found himself at the centre of intense telephone discussions with the leaders of Ukraine and Russia. The main topic was the prospects for ending the war.
- Trump held talks with Zelenskyy and Putin on the eve of the NATO summit.
- Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to the US for its support during the war.
- The prospects for peace and the situation on the front line were discussed.
- The Kremlin has been trying to put forward its conditions for resolving the conflict.
- The NATO summit in Ankara will take place on 7–8 July.
A diplomatic marathon ahead of the NATO summit
On Saturday, 4 July, to mark the 250th anniversary of US Independence Day, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a telephone conversation with his American counterpart Donald Trump. During the conversation, the Ukrainian President expressed his gratitude to the American people for their comprehensive support — ranging from Javelin systems to Patriot towards political solidarity on the international stage.
The prospect of peace and the forthcoming meeting
Zelenskyy described the conversation as «very good» and emphasised that a window of opportunity is now opening for an end to the hostilities.
«There is a real prospect of bringing this war to an end, and America’s resolve will be crucial,» said the Ukrainian president.
The leaders discussed the current situation on the front line in detail and coordinated their positions ahead of the upcoming the NATO summit in Ankara, which is due to take place 7–8 July. Right there, in the clearing Alliance meetings, Zelenskyy and Trump agreed to continue the talks in person.
The Kremlin is trying to put across «its own version of events»
Almost immediately after speaking with Kyiv, Donald Trump had a lengthy telephone conversation with the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. According to the assistant to the head of the Russian Federation Yuri Ushakov, the conversation lasted 1 hour and 25 minutes and was «business-like».
The Kremlin stated that Putin had also wished Trump a happy holiday, but had used the occasion to set out Moscow’s view of the situation on the battlefield. The Russian side attempted once again to push its conditions for resolving the conflict, particularly in the context of Trump’s plans to attend the Alliance summit in Ankara.
