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Russian President Vladimir Putin told U.S. President Donald Trump in a telephone conversation Thursday that Moscow will not abandon its objectives in Ukraine, according to the Kremlin, as American-led peace efforts remain stalled and Washington has paused some weapons deliveries to Kyiv.
The call, which lasted nearly an hour, came amid mounting frustration from Trump over the lack of progress in ending the conflict that has stretched beyond three years. Putin's message underscored the deep divide that continues to complicate diplomatic efforts to resolve the war.
"Our president said that Russia will achieve the aims it set, that is to say the elimination of the root causes that led to the current state of affairs," Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters. "Russia will not give up on these aims."
Moscow has consistently framed its maximalist goals in Ukraine as addressing what it calls the "root causes" of the conflict, primarily demanding that Ukraine abandon its NATO membership aspirations. The Russian offensive has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties and left Moscow controlling substantial portions of eastern and southern Ukraine.
Despite the firm stance on objectives, Putin indicated Russia remained open to continued negotiations. "He also spoke of the readiness of the Russian side to continue the negotiation process," Ushakov said, adding that Putin expressed Moscow's commitment to seeking "a political, negotiated solution to the conflict."
However, Russia has refused for months to accept a U.S.-proposed ceasefire in Ukraine. Ukrainian officials and Western allies have accused Putin of prolonging diplomatic processes while simultaneously advancing military operations on Ukrainian territory.
The conversation also touched on broader regional conflicts, with Putin "stressing" to Trump that Middle East disputes should be resolved "diplomatically," following recent U.S. strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran, Russia's ally.
The call occurred as Ukrainian forces faced continued Russian attacks, with at least eight people killed in Thursday's strikes, according to Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in Denmark meeting with European allies during the Putin-Trump conversation.
A senior Ukrainian official told AFP that Trump and Zelenskyy planned to speak Friday, highlighting the diplomatic activity surrounding efforts to address the conflict.
The pause in some U.S. weapons shipments has significantly impacted Ukraine's military capabilities, as Kyiv has depended heavily on Western military support since Russia's 2022 invasion. During his Denmark visit, Zelenskyy emphasized to European Union allies that uncertainty over American military aid reinforced the necessity for stronger cooperation with Brussels and NATO.
Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine's support for Trump's "unconditional ceasefire" proposal while working Wednesday to clarify with U.S. officials the implications of the White House announcement regarding paused weapons deliveries.
"Continued American support for Ukraine, for our defence, for our people is in our common interest," Zelenskyy said Wednesday.
Russia has consistently demanded that Western nations halt weapons shipments to Ukraine, viewing such support as prolonging the conflict and undermining potential diplomatic solutions. The pause in American military aid has prompted discussions among European allies about potentially increasing their own support to fill any gaps in Ukrainian defense capabilities.
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