Trump’s Call with Putin Yields No Progress on Ukraine Conflict
On Thursday, President Trump indicated that his recent conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin did not lead to any advancements toward a ceasefire in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. This suggests that Putin is not currently interested in resolving the situation.
“We had a call. It was a pretty long call. We discussed various topics, including Iran, and of course, the conflict in Ukraine. I’m not happy about that, I’m not happy,” Trump shared.
“No, I didn’t make any progress with him today at all. I’m just saying I don’t think he’s looking to stop, and that’s too bad,” he continued.
Russian diplomat Yuri Ushakov also provided insights into the conversation, stating that Putin aims to find a political and negotiated solution to the issue.
“Our president noted that Russia is determined to achieve its goals, which include addressing the underlying factors that have led to this confrontation. Russia will not back down from these objectives,” Ushakov added.
Since February 24, 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the justification has been rooted in the claim that Ukraine’s pursuit of NATO membership poses a threat to Russia.
Following the call, it was reported that the U.S. has started slowing down specific arms shipments to Ukraine. Trump clarified that while not all shipments have been halted, they are lesser compared to those during the Biden administration, due in part to concerns about the stockpile of U.S. weapons.
“We’re giving weapons, but we’ve given so many weapons. But we are giving weapons,” Trump stated.
“We’re collaborating and helping them, but we haven’t completely stopped. You know, Biden emptied out our whole country giving them weapons, and we need to ensure that we have enough for ourselves,” he added.
This reduction in military support has prompted Ukrainian leaders to appeal to U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, about the critical need for continued aid. Notably, the Patriot defense missiles, which have been essential for Ukraine in counteracting Russian ballistic missiles, have recently been removed from the delivery list.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his intention to discuss this matter with Trump soon.
“I hope that maybe tomorrow, or in the coming days, I can speak about it with President Trump,” he noted.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the United States has provided Ukraine with approximately $175 billion in aid, highlighting the ongoing significance of military support for the region.
