US President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that his phone call with Vladimir Putin yielded no progress toward ending the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, a Kremlin aide said the Russian leader reiterated Moscow's insistence on resolving the conflict’s "root causes." The two did not discuss the recent halt in certain US weapons deliveries to Kyiv during their hour-long conversation, according to Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov. Diplomatic efforts by the US to resolve Russia’s war in Ukraine have stalled, and Trump faces growing pressure—including from some Republicans—to push Putin toward serious negotiations.
"I didn’t make any progress with him at all," Trump told reporters briefly at an airbase near Washington before leaving for a political event in Iowa. Putin has repeatedly stated he will only halt the invasion if the conflict’s "root causes"—a reference to NATO expansion and Western backing for Ukraine—are addressed.
Shortly after the call, a suspected Russian drone strike ignited a fire in an apartment building near Kyiv. The capital itself saw explosions and sustained heavy gunfire overnight as air defenses engaged drones overhead. Meanwhile, Russian shelling killed five people in eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking earlier in Denmark, expressed hope of discussing the weapons delay with Trump by Friday. The pause in certain US arms deliveries, first reported this week, comes as Ukraine faces a renewed Russian offensive and increasing attacks on civilian areas. The US has cited low stockpiles as the reason for the delay.
A senior Ukrainian commander warned that the death of an experienced F-16 pilot against Russian drones highlights the risky tactics Kyiv may resort to without sufficient air defenses. Recent weeks have seen intensified Russian airstrikes killing dozens, a trend officials say will worsen if allies fail to deliver crucial weapons.
At the funeral of pilot Maksym Ustymenkoin, Oleh Zakharchuk, deputy commander of Ukraine’s western air command, said, "Everyone must understand there is no such thing as enough weapons. If we cannot use missiles because we lack them, the situation will become extremely difficult."
In another attack, an airstrike on the central city of Poltava killed two, injured 47, and damaged a military enlistment office. Kyiv accused Moscow of deliberately targeting recruitment centers to undermine Ukraine’s war effort. The strike followed a prior drone attack.
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