**US and Russian Presidents Fail to Make Progress on Ending Ukraine Conflict**
In a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the two leaders failed to make any progress in ending the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The hour-long conversation on July 3 was focused on Russia’s war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.
According to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, Putin stated that “Russia will continue to pursue its goals” in the war against Ukraine. This message came amid a surge of Russian drone and missile attacks across Ukraine, which have killed and injured hundreds of civilians in recent weeks.
The phone call was the sixth conversation between Trump and Putin since Trump took office in January. Despite two rounds of negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow, Putin has refused to implement a ceasefire, citing his maximalist demands.
**Trump Fails to Broker Ceasefire**
Since taking office, Trump has attempted to broker a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia to no avail. His administration has not imposed new sanctions nor taken steps to pressure the Kremlin directly. The lack of progress in ending the conflict is a cause for concern, especially given the recent surge in Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians.
The US Defense Department had paused shipments of key weapons systems to Ukraine, including Patriot air defense missiles and precision-guided munitions. This move has been criticized by Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, which warns that it undermines defense efforts and risks emboldening Russia to escalate further.
**Ukraine Calls for Direct Talks**
President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the need for direct talks between national leaders in order to achieve peace. He described Trump and Putin as “completely different people” but noted that only Putin makes decisions in Russia.
“This is why we need a meeting at the leadership level if we want to have peace,” Zelensky said.
The failure of Trump and Putin to make progress on ending the conflict in Ukraine highlights the complexity of the situation. As the situation continues to escalate, it remains to be seen how this crisis will be resolved.
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