U.S. President Donald Trump offered to assist in finding a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine during a nearly 90-minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, U.S. Independence Day, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said in a statement released early Sunday. The call took place ahead of the NATO summit scheduled for next week in Turkey.
According to Ushakov, Trump expressed readiness to work toward a rapid cessation of hostilities and emphasized his intent to help overcome the crisis. Ushakov characterized the conversation as “businesslike and quite constructive,” noting that Russia remains committed to a political and diplomatic solution that respects Moscow’s key conditions.
Ushakov accused Kyiv and its European allies of seeking to prolong and escalate the conflict, citing Ukraine’s recent long-range strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, which have contributed to fuel shortages across several Russian regions. He also reported that Putin described ongoing battlefield developments as positive for Russian forces, stating that the military continues to advance and “liberate one locality after another.”
On Friday, Russian commanders claimed to have captured the strategically important city of Kostiantynivka in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukraine’s General Staff dismissed these assertions on Saturday, maintaining that Ukrainian forces still retain control of the city.
Zelensky also reportedly spoke with Trump, with Ushakov noting that the U.S. president reaffirmed his willingness to seek a swift end to the fighting. Russia has insisted that any potential settlement must include Moscow’s full control over Ukraine’s Donbas region.
Meanwhile, tensions between Russia and the United Kingdom remain elevated amid ongoing conflict-related disputes and allegations of hybrid warfare. John Foreman, who served as Britain’s defense attaché in Moscow until 2022, described relations as “terrible” and deteriorating. He said the Kremlin views Britain as a primary adversary due to London’s significant support for Ukraine, including substantial military aid and diplomatic backing.
Hybrid hostilities have manifested in various incidents, including the June 16 firing by the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich toward a British yacht in international waters near the Isle of Wight, and the seizure by Royal Marines of an oil tanker reportedly linked to Russian sanctions evasion. Russian intelligence services have accused Britain, using the historic term “perfidious Albion,” of inciting global conflict.
In the United Kingdom, Kremlin-affiliated actors have been implicated in cyberattacks and orchestrated harassment campaigns. Notably, two Ukrainian-born men were convicted for arson attacks on properties linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer; court proceedings revealed that recruitment and coordination occurred via encrypted messaging apps with ties to Russian hacker groups. Additionally, Russian-linked cyberattacks in 2024 and 2025 targeted critical British infrastructure and industry, including vehicle production at Jaguar Land Rover and a National Health Service supplier.
Observers suggest these actions form part of a broader Russian strategy to destabilize Western governments without engaging in direct military confrontation. In Britain, where political leadership has changed frequently and public opinion is divided on foreign policy, Russian influence operations appear aimed at undermining support for sanctions on Moscow and military aid to Ukraine.
Security experts warn that Moscow’s efforts may intensify, particularly as it confronts increasing international pressure. In response, Prime Minister Starmer announced a significant $28 billion increase in defense spending, including investments in fighter jets, nuclear submarines, drones, and autonomous weapons systems. NATO intelligence has reportedly warned that Russia could pose an attack threat to the alliance by 2030.
Despite such assessments, Foreman dismissed suggestions of imminent large-scale conflict, characterizing hybrid warfare as a tactic intended to avoid direct war while undermining adversaries. He cautioned that these covert operations are likely to persist or escalate, driven by President Vladimir Putin’s preference for espionage and subversive methods aimed at weakening the United Kingdom and other Western nations.