US President Donald Trump said he had a “good and very productive” phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of his scheduled meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The call came at a critical time as Trump prepares to host Zelenskyy in Florida to discuss possible steps toward ending the nearly four-year-long war in Ukraine.
The conflict began after Russia invaded Ukraine and has since caused massive loss of life, destruction of cities, and a deep divide between Moscow and Kyiv. Trump’s latest diplomatic move signals renewed efforts by the United States to play a leading role in pushing for a peace agreement.
Donald Trump shared details of his phone conversation with Vladimir Putin through a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. He said the call took place shortly before his meeting with Zelenskyy and described it as “very productive.”
Trump said he spoke to Putin ahead of his meeting with the Ukrainian leader, which was scheduled to take place at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s private residence and club in Palm Beach, Florida. He added that members of the press were invited to cover the meeting.
The US president did not share specific details of what was discussed during the phone call with Putin. However, the timing of the conversation suggests it was connected to the upcoming talks with Zelenskyy and efforts to find a path toward peace.
Trump is hosting Zelenskyy with the aim of closing in on a peace plan that could end the war. According to Ukrainian officials, the meeting will focus on security guarantees, economic cooperation, and territorial disputes between Ukraine and Russia.
Zelenskyy has said he plans to raise issues related to the Donbas region, where fighting has been intense for years, as well as other occupied areas. Ukraine and Russia remain deeply divided over control of these territories, making negotiations extremely challenging.
The meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy comes at a time when violence has sharply increased on the ground in Ukraine, adding urgency to diplomatic efforts.
While diplomatic talks were being planned, Russia launched fresh attacks across Ukraine, including heavy strikes on major cities. According to Ukrainian officials, Russia used guided aerial bombs, ballistic missiles, and drones in recent attacks.
In one overnight strike, three guided bombs hit residential homes in the eastern city of Sloviansk, injuring three people and killing one man. The information was shared by Vadym Lakh, the head of the local military administration, through a post on Telegram.
Just a day earlier, Russia launched a large-scale attack on Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. Ukrainian authorities said ballistic missiles and drones struck the city early in the morning, causing explosions that lasted for several hours. At least one person was killed, and 27 others were injured in the attack.
The timing of the strikes drew strong reactions from Ukrainian leaders. Zelenskyy said the attacks clearly showed Russia’s lack of interest in peace.
“This attack is Russia’s answer to our peace efforts,” Zelenskyy said while speaking during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. He added that the violence proved President Putin did not truly want peace.
During the same meeting, Canada announced USD 1.8 billion in economic assistance for Ukraine. Prime Minister Carney said the latest attacks highlighted why global support for Ukraine remained crucial.
“The brutality we saw overnight shows why we must stand with Ukraine during this difficult time,” Carney said. He added that Canada would continue to support Ukraine politically, economically, and diplomatically.
Zelenskyy said that during his talks with Trump, he would raise several key issues, including long-term security guarantees, rebuilding Ukraine’s economy, and the future of disputed regions such as Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia. These areas remain flashpoints in the conflict and are central to any peace agreement.
As Trump prepares to host Zelenskyy, global attention remains focused on whether the meeting will lead to concrete steps toward ending the war. The phone call between Trump and Putin suggests behind-the-scenes diplomacy is underway, though major differences between Russia and Ukraine remain unresolved.
Observers say any peace agreement would require difficult compromises and strong international guarantees. With fighting continuing and civilian casualties rising, pressure is growing on world leaders to find a solution that can bring lasting stability to the region.
For now, Trump’s phone call with Putin and his upcoming meeting with Zelenskyy have raised hopes that renewed diplomatic efforts could open a path toward ending one of Europe’s most devastating conflicts in decades.
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