WASHINGTON/MOSCOW, July 3, 2025 - A recent phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to yield any progress towards a ceasefire in Ukraine, as Russia reaffirmed its commitment to achieving its goals in the ongoing conflict [1][4].

The nearly hour-long conversation, which took place on Thursday, marked the sixth publicly disclosed call between the two leaders since Trump's return to the White House in January [3]. President Trump expressed his desire for a swift end to the hostilities, but came away from the discussion with a grim assessment.

"It was a pretty long call, we talked about a lot of things, including Iran, and we also talked about, as you know, the war with Ukraine. And I'm not happy about that," Trump told reporters [5]. When asked if he had made any progress towards a deal to end the war, Trump replied bluntly, "No, I didn't make any progress with him at all." [5]

According to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, Putin reiterated Russia's stance on the conflict. "Our president said that Russia will pursue its goals, specifically addressing the root causes that led to the current situation, and will not back down from these objectives," Ushakov stated [1].

The call did not include discussions about the recent pause in some U.S. weapons shipments to Ukraine, a topic that has garnered attention in recent days [4]. When questioned about this pause, Trump downplayed its significance, stating, "We're giving weapons ... and we're working with them and trying to help them." [11]

Despite the lack of progress, both leaders agreed that Russian and U.S. officials would maintain contact on the issue [3]. Putin also expressed Russia's openness to continuing dialogue with the U.S., but emphasized that any peace negotiations would need to occur directly between Moscow and Kyiv [2].

The conversation also touched on other global issues, including the situation in Iran and the broader Middle East. Putin stressed the need to resolve all differences "exclusively by political and diplomatic means," according to Ushakov [3].

As the war in Ukraine continues into its fourth year, this latest high-level discussion underscores the ongoing challenges in finding a diplomatic solution to the conflict. With Russia standing firm on its objectives and no breakthrough in sight, the international community remains watchful for any signs of progress towards peace in the region.