Trump speaks with Putin, Zelenskyy even as peace talks on hold

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump held a "friendly and frank" phone call on the U.S. president's birthday, the Kremlin said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also spoke with Trump.

"The conversation was friendly and frank in character and lasted about an hour," Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said on Sunday. The pair discussed international issues, the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran and contacts between Washington and Moscow.

Ushakov said U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, planned to return to Russia soon, without giving more detail.

The conversation comes as U.S.-brokered talks between Kyiv and Moscow on ending the war are stalled with Trump focused on the conflict with Iran.

Putin and Trump addressed recent strikes against civilian targets in Russia, Ushakov said.

Ukrainian forces overnight targeted a Russian chemical plant in the Tula region and an oil storage facility in the Yaroslavl area, among other locations, in what Kyiv has characterized as an ongoing effort deprive Russia of oil income and supplies.

Ukraine's Zelenskyy said on social media that he had a "great conversation" with Trump on Sunday, congratulating the U.S. president on his 80th birthday and touching on diplomatic issues.

"We discussed things that could help bring about peace now, and I informed the president about the latest developments on the battlefield and how our position has strengthened," Zelenskyy said.

The Ukrainian president, along with Trump, is expected to attend the G7 summit in France that starts on Monday.

"We agreed that we will discuss more during our meeting at the G7 summit," Zelenskyy said.

The White House hasn't provided a readout on either of Trump's calls.

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This story was originally published June 14, 2026 at 12:58 PM.