Putin, Zelenskyy both speak with Trump on his 80th birthday
Both leaders called the U.S. president as he prepares for the G7 summit, where Ukraine is expected to dominate discussions.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy each spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump by phone on Sunday, June 14, as Trump marked his 80th birthday and ahead of this week's G7 summit in France.
Putin's call lasted just under an hour. According to Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, Trump emphasized the need to end hostilities in Ukraine and stated his readiness to influence European allies and Kyiv toward that goal, including at the upcoming G7 summit.
Trump said recent strikes on civilian targets in Russia complicate a settlement, though the White House has not confirmed that claim. Trump also said ending the war quickly could open the door to "a truly new quality of U.S.-Russian relations," Ushakov quoted him as saying.
Putin, for his part, argued that attacks on Russian civilian infrastructure by Kyiv would not change Ukraine's position on the battlefield. He told Ushakov that if Zelenskyy wants a meeting, "let him come to Moscow."
Zelenskyy said in a statement on Telegram Sunday that he had a "wonderful conversation" with Trump. Beyond congratulating the president on his birthday, Zelenskyy said he thanked Trump for supporting Ukraine and discussed "what could help bring peace closer now." Zelenskyy also informed Trump about how Ukraine's position along the eastern front line has improved and strengthened. "We agreed to discuss more during our meeting at the G7 summit," he said.
The calls came as fighting continued. Ukrainian drone attacks killed one person and wounded nine others overnight in a residential building in Russia's Oryol region. Another drone attack killed one person in Bryansk. A separate strike hit fuel storage facilities in Russia's Yaroslavl region, around 440 miles from the Ukrainian border, sparking fires.
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to travel to Russia soon, Ushakov said.
Trump is set to mark his birthday with a UFC fight on the White House lawn Sunday evening — an event without precedent in American history. Once it concludes, he will fly overnight to France for the G7 summit, where Ukraine is expected to be a major topic of discussion Tuesday.