Putin tells Trump Russia won’t back down on Ukraine war goals and reaffirms willingness to talk

MOSCOW|| July 3, 2025: Russian President Vladimir Putin has told U.S. President Donald Trump that while Moscow remains open to a negotiated resolution to the war in Ukraine, it will not retreat from its fundamental objectives, according to a senior Kremlin official.

The comments came during a phone call between the two leaders on Thursday, which also touched on escalating tensions in the Middle East and the situation with Iran, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.

“President Trump once again raised the issue of ending military operations in Ukraine as soon as possible,” Ushakov said. “In response, President Putin reiterated Russia’s ongoing pursuit of a political and diplomatic solution to the conflict.”

Putin also briefed Trump on recent developments in Ukraine, including the implementation of prisoner-of-war and soldier remains exchanges between Moscow and Kyiv, following agreements made last month. He emphasized that Russia remains prepared to continue negotiations with Ukrainian counterparts.

However, Putin made it clear that Russia would not compromise on its core war aims, stating that the country seeks to address the “root causes” of the conflict—a reference to longstanding Kremlin claims that NATO’s expansion and Ukraine’s potential membership pose a direct threat to Russian national security.

“Russia will achieve the goals it has set—namely, the elimination of the well-known root causes that led to the current acute confrontation,” Ushakov quoted Putin as saying. “We will not back down from these goals.”

The Kremlin’s statement did not indicate any significant shift in Moscow’s position, despite President Trump’s efforts to broker a swift end to the conflict since taking office. Trump has previously expressed frustration over the lack of progress and has shown some alignment with Russia’s opposition to NATO membership for Ukraine.

Notably, the two leaders did not discuss Washington’s recent decision to suspend certain military aid shipments to Ukraine, Ushakov confirmed.

Regarding Iran, Ushakov said the Russian side urged the peaceful resolution of all disputes through diplomacy. The phone call comes on the heels of heightened tensions after the U.S. launched airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities last month—an action that Moscow denounced as “unprovoked and illegal.”

The conversation underscores ongoing geopolitical divisions as both Moscow and Washington navigate multiple international crises with global implications.

— Reuters