After Lukewarm Putin Call, Trump Reports ‘Productive’ Conversation with Zelenskyy

After ‘Disappointing’ Putin Call, Trump Holds ‘Productive’ Talks with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy.

US President Donald Trump spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday, just a day after expressing frustration over what he described as a fruitless conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“I’m very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin,” Trump said. “I don’t think he’s looking to stop the war — and that’s too bad.”

A Shift in Focus to Ukraine
Following that sentiment, Trump’s call with Zelenskyy was seen as a constructive step. Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, described the call as “important and productive,” especially as Ukraine faces new challenges amid a temporary pause in certain US weapons deliveries.

The Pentagon recently confirmed it is halting some shipments — including Patriot missile systems and precision-guided munitions — due to depleted US stockpiles. Trump defended the move, blaming what he called the Biden administration’s “reckless” military outflows.

“We’re giving weapons, but we’ve given so many,” Trump said. “Biden emptied out our whole country. We have to make sure we have enough for ourselves.”

No Breakthrough with Putin
Trump’s hour-long call with Putin was the sixth between the two leaders since Trump began his second term in January. While the Kremlin claimed that Putin showed a “readiness” to consider a political solution, the Russian leader also reiterated Moscow’s long-standing position — pointing to NATO’s eastward expansion and Western support for Kyiv as the root causes of the conflict.

Soon after the call, Russia launched new drone strikes on a Kyiv suburb, and artillery shelling in eastern Ukraine killed at least five civilians, Ukrainian officials reported.

Trump on the Peace Process
When asked whether the talks with Putin moved the needle on a possible peace deal, Trump was blunt: “No, I didn’t make any progress with him at all.”

Despite his dissatisfaction with Moscow, Trump maintained that the US remains engaged with Kyiv. “We’re still working with Ukraine,” he said, signaling Washington’s continued involvement in efforts to manage the ongoing conflict.