Trump and Putin Talk, But War Talks Fail

Key Points from the Conversation

No Progress Made: The call between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin did not result in any breakthroughs regarding the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war.
Trump's Discontent: Trump admitted to reporters that he didn't make any progress in his conversation with Putin, which lasted quite a while. He mentioned being unhappy about the situation, though it's unclear if he was referring to the lack of progress or the war itself.

Reduced Negotiation Efforts: Trump has been less involved in negotiating between Russia and Ukraine since February, following a heated argument with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office.
Shift in U.S. Policy: The U.S. has been one of Ukraine's strongest supporters since Russia's invasion in 2022. However, under Trump's administration, the U.S. has started to pull back, even pausing the sending of weapons to Ukraine due to concerns about their own stockpiles.

Middle East Tensions: During the call, Trump and Putin also discussed Iran. Recent attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities, carried out by Israel and the U.S., were a point of discussion. Russia had previously warned against escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Financial Assistance: The U.S. has provided $66.9 billion in assistance to Ukraine from 2022 to March 2025.
Potential Withdrawal: There are indications that the U.S. might be considering withdrawing this support. Vice President JD Vance stated that the war isn't going to end anytime soon, following the signing of a deal between the U.S. and Ukraine regarding minerals. This deal is intended to compensate the U.S. for its financial support.

Heated Exchange: Trump and Zelenskyy's relationship hit a low point earlier this year. They made harsh comments about each other, with Trump falsely claiming that Ukraine started the war with Russia. Zelenskyy responded by saying Trump was living in a "disinformation space" created by Russia.
Combative Discussion: Trump then called Zelenskyy a dictator and said he wasn't interested in ending the war. Their meeting in the Oval Office with Vance and other cabinet members ended early due to their combative discussion.

Zelenskyy's Criticism: Zelenskyy has been critical of Trump's increasing communication with Putin, stating that Putin isn't a reliable diplomat, pointing to failed deals with him in the past.
Trump's Accusations: Trump accused Zelenskyy of disrespecting the U.S. during their meeting and suggested that the U.S. could completely withdraw support from Ukraine's defense efforts.