- Category
- Latest news
Putin Tells Trump Russia Won’t Abandon Its War Goals in Ukraine, Says Kremlin Aide
- Authors
![Photo of Liubava Petriv]( "Photo of Liubava Petriv")
On July 3, US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin spoke for about an hour in a phone conversation that focused on Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, as well as broader geopolitical issues.
According to Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov, Putin told Trump that “Russia will continue to pursue the objectives of the special military operation and will not abandon them.”
Putin reportedly briefed Trump on the implementation of the Istanbul agreements between Russia and Ukraine. However, “no specific dates for a third round of negotiations were discussed,” Ushakov noted.
Notably, the issue of halting US military aid to Ukraine was not addressed during the call.
The two also discussed “the situation around Iran and the Middle East in general,” including the war in Syria, according to Ushakov.
There was also no mention of a potential summit or in-person meeting.
“The possibility of a personal meeting between the presidents was not discussed during the conversation,” he said. “The idea [of a meeting] is in the air. If necessary, an agreement will be reached.”
Putin extended congratulations to Trump ahead of US Independence Day on July 4.
The leaders also touched on “the possibility of exchanging films that promote traditional values,” a theme aligned with both the Russian government’s and Trump administration’s messaging.
On July 2, the United States announced a temporary suspension of critical military aid to Ukraine. The pause affects deliveries of key defense items, including Patriot missile interceptors, GMLRS rockets, Stinger and AIM-7 missiles, as well as 155mm artillery shells—all of which are vital to Ukraine’s battlefield resilience.
After Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell announced that the US Department of Defense is continuing to offer President Donald Trump a range of options for military assistance to Ukraine, while reevaluating its approach to ensure support aligns with US defense priorities and maintains the readiness of American forces.
The following day, on July 3, it was reported that President Donald Trump is expected to hold back-to-back calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The timing of these conversations—amid the halt in US military assistance.
