MOSCOW/WASHINGTON — Russian President Vladimir Putin told U.S. President Donald Trump in a phone call on Thursday that Moscow remains committed to achieving its goals in Ukraine and will not “give up,” according to a Kremlin statement.
The nearly hour-long conversation comes amid a stalemate in U.S.-led peace talks and Washington’s decision to temporarily pause some weapons deliveries to Kyiv — a move that has frustrated both Ukrainian and Russian leadership, as well as Trump himself.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters that Putin reiterated Moscow’s determination to eliminate what it views as the root causes of the conflict. “Our president said that Russia will achieve the aims it set — namely, addressing the fundamental causes that led to the current situation,” Ushakov said. “Russia will not abandon these objectives.”
Moscow has long demanded that Ukraine renounce its ambitions to join NATO and accept Russian control over occupied territories. Since launching its invasion in 2022, Russia has seized vast parts of eastern and southern Ukraine, with the war resulting in hundreds of thousands of casualties.
Despite its hardline stance, Putin reportedly expressed a willingness to remain engaged in negotiations. “President Putin emphasized Russia’s readiness to continue the political and diplomatic process,” Ushakov said.
However, Ukraine and its Western allies accuse Moscow of using talks to stall while continuing military advances. Russia has refused to accept a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal and has shown no signs of scaling down its military campaign.
During the call, Putin also addressed tensions in the Middle East, urging Trump that conflicts involving Russia’s allies, such as Iran, should be resolved through diplomacy. This followed recent U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, further escalating regional instability.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was in Denmark on Thursday, where he urged EU allies to step up support amid uncertainty over future U.S. military assistance. The White House’s announcement of a pause in arms shipments sparked concern in Kyiv, prompting Ukrainian officials to seek clarification from Washington.
Zelensky, who is expected to speak with Trump on Friday, reiterated Ukraine’s support for a ceasefire. “Continued American support for Ukraine, for our defence, for our people, is in our common interest,” he said.
Ukraine’s military efforts have been heavily reliant on Western weapons since the beginning of the Russian invasion. Moscow, meanwhile, continues to demand an end to Western arms transfers to Kyiv, blaming them for prolonging the war.
On the same day as the Putin-Trump call, Russian missile strikes killed at least eight people in Ukraine, underscoring the ongoing intensity of the conflict despite intermittent diplomatic discussions.
