President Donald Trump engaged in a nearly hour-long conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, as reported by a Kremlin official and relayed through NBC News.
Topics discussed included the situation in Ukraine, according to the official. Just two days prior, the U.S. announced a suspension of certain missile and ammunition shipments to Ukraine, which is currently battling against Russian aggression.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had previously ordered the halt to shipments after initiating a review of the nation’s munitions inventory, as reported by NBC News sources.
During the call, Trump “brought up the matter of an immediate ceasefire” between the two nations, as noted by the Russian official during a press briefing.
In contrast, President Putin indicated that Russia’s focus remains on achieving a “political resolution to the conflict through negotiations.”
The Russian leader also confirmed that his country remains committed to “fulfilling its stated objectives” in Ukraine, asserting that Russia will not abandon its goals aimed at addressing the underlying causes of the conflict and ensuing tensions.
The suspension of U.S. military shipments this week has raised alarm among those questioning Trump’s dedication to supporting Ukraine amid the ongoing war with Russia.
“Ukraine has never requested that America deploy the 82nd airborne; they’ve asked for weapons to defend their homeland and people from Russian attacks,” stated Mike Pompeo, former secretary of State during Trump’s first term, through a post on X on Wednesday.
“Allowing Russia to emerge victorious would pose an unmitigated disaster for the American public and our global security,” Pompeo added.
On Wednesday, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell affirmed that the department “continues to provide the President with robust options regarding military aid to Ukraine, in line with his goal of bringing this tragic war to a close.”
Simultaneously, he noted that the Pentagon is undergoing a “thorough review and adjustment of its strategy to attain this objective while ensuring that U.S. military readiness and defense priorities support the president’s America First agenda.” Parnell explained that this capability review is a pragmatic step towards establishing a framework for evaluating munitions sent and their destinations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Wednesday that Washington and Kyiv are “clarifying all the details of defense support, including air defense.”
“One way or another, we must ensure protection for our people,” Zelenskyy stated.
This pause in shipments coincides with a significant uptick in Russian attacks across Ukraine. Kyiv’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Andrii Sybiha, reported that Russia launched over 5,000 combat drones and hundreds of missiles, including nearly 80 ballistic missiles, in June alone.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs communicated to a U.S. official on Wednesday that any delays or reductions in support for Ukraine’s defense capabilities would only incentivize continued aggression and terror by Russia, rather than fostering conditions for peace.
