U.S. President Donald Trump said his recent call with Russian President Vladimir Putin yielded "no progress at all" toward ending the war in Ukraine. Despite nearly an hour-long conversation, the two leaders made no headway, and they did not discuss the U.S.'s temporary pause in certain weapons shipments to Kyiv, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.
Following the call, Russian drone strikes hit a residential area in northern Kyiv, sparking fires and highlighting the ongoing intensity of the conflict. Ukrainian air defenses responded to drone attacks over the capital, while Russian shelling in eastern Ukraine killed five civilians.
Speaking before departing Washington for a campaign event in Iowa, Trump said the U.S. has not entirely halted weapons deliveries but blamed former President Joe Biden for depleting stockpiles. "We’re giving weapons, but Biden emptied out our whole country giving them weapons," Trump said, emphasizing the need to balance aid with domestic defense needs.
The U.S. has paused certain key weapons shipments due to low reserves, including Patriot missile systems critical to Ukraine’s defense. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hopes to speak with Trump about the situation and warned the U.S. pause could undermine Ukraine's ability to repel Russia’s summer offensive.
Putin continues to demand that so-called "root causes" be addressed—mainly NATO expansion and Western military support to Ukraine. Russia has pushed for bilateral talks with Kyiv and has resisted any U.S. involvement in peace negotiations. Kremlin officials reportedly asked U.S. diplomats to leave during a recent Istanbul meeting.
As uncertainty grows over Trump’s stance and U.S. military aid, Kyiv has called on Washington to reaffirm support, warning that delays could jeopardize Ukraine’s defense against escalating Russian aggression.