WASHINGTON — President Trump spoke Thursday morning with Russian President Vladimir Putin – two days after the US cut off air defense missiles and other weapons to Ukraine citing low American stockpiles.
“Will be speaking to President Putin of Russia at 10:00 A.M. Thank you!” Trump wrote on Truth Social 20 minutes before the scheduled chat.
The Kremlin later said the call lasted nearly an hour and that the men had a “frank and constructive” discussion about the the Ukraine conflict — as well as the political transition in Syria and the fate of the nuclear program in Iran following US airstrikes last month.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during the New Ideas For New Times Forum at the Russia National Center, July 3, 2025, in Moscow, Russia. Getty Images
Trump “once again raised the issue of ending the hostilities as soon as possible,” the Russian government said.
“In turn, Vladimir Putin noted that we still continued [sic] the search for a political, negotiated solution to the conflict … He also noted Russia was willing to pursue negotiations.”
Putin added, in Moscow’s telling, that he wanted to address the “root causes” of the war — an apparent reference to Ukraine’s pro-Western government — and that “Russia will not back down from these goals.”
The Kremlin autocrat invaded his neighbor in February 2022 after alleging discrimination against ethnic Russians and expressing concern about potential NATO expansion.
Ukrainian servicemen are at work to receive the delivery of FGM-148 Javelins, American man-portable anti-tank missiles. AFP via Getty Images
Prior conversations between Trump and Putin have been coupled with calls by Trump to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an attempt to broker an end to fighting between the countries.
Those efforts have been frustrated by Russia’s insistence that Ukraine recognize Moscow’s territorial gains during the 40-month-old war — which Kyiv sees as a red line — and abandon any hope of joining the 32-nation NATO alliance.
The White House did not release additional information — including about any potential Zelensky call — as of Thursday evening.
On Tuesday, the Pentagon confirmed that it had paused shipments of air defense missiles, precision-guided artillery and other equipment as it reviews U.S. military stockpiles.
The Kremlin readout made no mention of the shipment halt being discussed on the call between Trump and Putin.
Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump seated together at the NATO summit. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP via Getty Images
Zelensky said in Denmark after meeting with major European Union backers that he hoped to speak to Trump about the weapons’ status “maybe tomorrow, or close days.”
Trump and Putin spoke one week after Trump helped broker a cease-fire between Israel and Iran, days after bombing Tehran’s key nuclear sites June 21.
Trump recently has been pessimistic about solving the Russia-Ukraine conflict – likening the nations to children during a White House visit last month by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
“Sometimes you see two young children fighting like crazy,” Trump said. “They hate each other, and they’re fighting in a park, and you try and pull them apart. They don’t want to be pulled. Sometimes you’re better off letting them fight for a while and then pulling them apart.”