Putin Tells Trump Peace Talks Unlikely, Hours Before Deadly Ukraine Strikes

Russian President Vladimir Putin informed then-President Donald Trump that he had no intention of resuming peace talks with Ukraine, a stance he maintained even as Russian forces carried out deadly strikes that killed at least 20 Ukrainians early Saturday. During a call with Trump that lasted 90 minutes on Friday, Putin stated that Moscow would continue its military campaign until it achieved "all stated goals."

"Putin made it clear that Moscow will continue hostilities until it achieves all stated goals," Russian foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told state media. Ushakov also claimed Putin sought to convince Trump that Ukraine had "no prospects whatsoever" and that Russia controlled the war's outcome, despite recent Ukrainian gains.

According to Ukrainian Pravda, Ushakov reported that Trump initiated the call to offer birthday wishes to Putin and convey greetings from the First Lady. Ushakov also claimed Trump said he would relay Putin's message regarding peace talks to the Ukrainian government. "Neither wanted to be the first to hang up," Ushakov stated.

This conversation occurred on the same day that high-level talks organized by the United States, involving Ukrainian negotiators and representatives from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the European Commission, and NATO, failed to yield any breakthroughs. A senior Ukrainian official described the situation to the Kyiv Independent as feeling like a "trap," particularly after Washington's decision to remove export sanctions on Russia, allowing it to send diesel fuel to the U.S. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reportedly called this a "weak decision" that would empower Putin's war effort.

Meanwhile, Russian forces conducted attacks on a residential neighborhood in Zaporizhzhia early Saturday, using five guided aerial bombs. Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported that these strikes killed 20 people and injured 18. Among the deceased were three children, including an 11-year-old boy. "They were supposed to live, hugging relatives, making plans, enjoying every day. Children had to grow, dream, and learn about the world, but Russia brutally cut short their lives," said Mykhailo Semikin, acting governor of Zaporizhzhia, on Telegram.

Search and rescue operations continued into Saturday as emergency personnel worked to find victims trapped beneath the rubble. "There are no words that can ease the pain of families who have lost their loved ones," Semikin added.