Russian President Vladimir Putin told President Trump on Saturday that Moscow is prepared to resume peace talks with Kyiv after June 22, once prisoner exchanges and body repatriations are complete. This marks the fifth call between the two leaders since Trump assumed office, reflecting his effort to reshape U.S.–Russia relations.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the exchanges will conclude before any new negotiations begin. “The exchanges will be completed and the parties will discuss the next step,” Zelensky stated, emphasizing Ukraine’s need for continued U.S. aid and cautioning that any warming tone toward Russia is “deeply unfair.”
Putin and Trump also discussed the Iran‑Israel conflict, with Putin calling to wish Trump a happy 79th birthday. Trump echoed a mutual desire for both conflicts to end: “He feels, as do I, this war in Israel‑Iran should end… his war should also end.”
The call has unsettled Washington’s allies, raising concerns about potential shifts in U.S. support for Kyiv. Zelensky warned that a warmer U.S. tone or reduced aid would bolster Russian aggression. “Russia is the aggressor,” he wrote on X, “They started this war. They do not want to end it.”
Meanwhile, Ukraine and Russia completed their latest prisoner swap—the fourth this week—returning numerous wounded soldiers and bodies under an Istanbul agreement. Visuals emerged of troops from both sides reuniting with loved ones on their respective sides.
On the ground, Russia intensified efforts toward Sumy, aiming to establish a buffer zone near its Kursk region. Ukrainian forces reportedly halted the advance and recaptured one village. Zelensky also dismissed Russian claims of an incursion into the Dnipropetrovsk region and said about 53,000 Russian troops are involved in the Sumy operation.
