Putin, Zelensky separately speak with Trump ahead of July 7-8 NATO summit in Ankara

According to Lianhe Zaobao citing AFP and Russian state news agency RIA, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky separately held phone calls with US President Donald Trump to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7-8. Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said Putin briefed Trump on the battlefield situation and said Russian forces were advancing steadily; the leaders also discussed Iran and the Middle East during an 85-minute call. Ushakov said Trump told Putin that US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would continue mediation efforts and were preparing to visit Moscow again, and reiterated his willingness to work toward a rapid end to the conflict. Zelensky said earlier on July 4 that he had a “very good” call with Trump, discussing the frontline situation and diplomatic efforts, and that they agreed to continue talks during the Ankara summit. Zaobao reported that both sides said the calls also marked the 250th anniversary of US independence, while negotiations remain stalled, with Moscow demanding Ukraine withdraw from the entire Donetsk region, a demand Kyiv has rejected.