Russian President Vladimir Putin denied that Russia has aggressive intentions toward Europe during a phone call with former U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, the Kremlin said. The discussion, which lasted one hour, focused largely on efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine, now in its fifth year.
The call came amid heightened concerns from Western security officials who have accused Russia of escalating its covert operations across Europe, including a recent thwarted drone attack at a German airport. These actions have been described by Ukraine’s allies as part of a "hybrid war" aimed at undermining Western support for Kyiv. However, Putin dismissed these allegations as “myths” and accused European governments of using the purported Russian threat to justify increasing military assistance to Ukraine and boosting their own defense budgets, according to Kremlin foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov.
During the call, Putin and Trump discussed the recent diplomatic visits by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv. The leaders reportedly expressed a positive evaluation of those efforts and agreed to continue working through this channel. Ushakov said Trump expressed a strong desire for the war to end swiftly, hoping for a breakthrough during his presidential term, which is set to last until 2029. Trump also suggested that a ceasefire could restore U.S.-Russia relations to full strength and open opportunities for trade benefiting both nations.
Ukraine’s presidential office acknowledged awareness of the conversation between Putin and Trump but stated that any discussion between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Trump would take place when both leaders deemed it appropriate.
The phone call took place hours after Russia launched a major missile strike on Kyiv, marking one of the largest overnight attacks on the capital in weeks. The barrage began in the early hours, killing three people and injuring at least ten, according to city officials and emergency services. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Yshkinja condemned the timing, saying the attack occurred immediately after the U.S. envoys left Kyiv.
Plans are reportedly underway for a potential meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly later this month, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Diplomatic efforts to negotiate an end to the war have largely stalled due to Russia’s insistence on stringent conditions. Moscow demands Ukraine relinquish control of the Donbas region and other territories, abandon its aspirations to join NATO, limit the size of its armed forces, and grant Russia significant influence over Ukraine’s future political decisions. Kyiv has repeatedly rejected these demands, viewing them as an unacceptable surrender.
The White House declined to comment on the Kremlin’s summary of the phone call. The two leaders agreed to maintain contact and speak again as needed, Ushakov said.