Putin, Zelenskyy both call Trump as Ukraine tensions peak

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy each spoke by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday as fighting intensified and a G7 summit began in France.

Putin's call with Trump lasted just under an hour. According to Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, Trump emphasized the need to end hostilities and said he was ready to influence European allies and Kyiv toward a settlement, including at the upcoming G7 summit.

Trump said recent strikes on civilian targets in Russia complicate a settlement and that ending the war quickly could open the door to "a truly new quality of U.S.-Russian relations," Ushakov quoted him as saying. Putin argued that Ukrainian attacks on Russian civilian infrastructure would not change the battlefield position and said if Zelenskyy wants to meet, "let him come to Moscow."

Zelenskyy said on Telegram Sunday he had a "wonderful conversation" with Trump. Beyond congratulating Trump on his birthday, the Ukrainian president thanked him for supporting Ukraine and said they discussed "what could help bring peace closer now." Zelenskyy informed Trump that Ukraine's position along the eastern front line has improved and said they agreed to discuss more during the G7 summit.

The diplomatic exchanges came as drone attacks continued. Ukrainian strikes killed one person and wounded nine others overnight in Russia's Oryol region, and another killed one person in Bryansk. A separate drone strike hit fuel storage facilities in Russia's Yaroslavl region, around 440 miles from the Ukrainian border, sparking fires. Zelenskyy said the strike targeted "an oil facility that was important for the reserve of the aggressor state." Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russian oil and gas infrastructure in recent months, arguing the sector funds Moscow's invasion.