European Security — 2026-07-07

Trump and Putin Hold 90-Minute July Fourth Call Discussing Ukraine Peace Ahead of NATO Summit

BLUFDespite sustained Trump-Putin contact, a Witkoff or Kushner trip to Moscow remains unlikely within 30 days, as US diplomatic capacity is absorbed by the Iran conflict ahead of the Ankara summit.

Trump and Putin spoke by phone for nearly 90 minutes on July 4, their fourth call this year, with Trump again offering to help end the Ukraine war and pledging to keep working toward a rapid ceasefire, according to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov 123. Ushakov described the call as businesslike and constructive and said Russia continues to seek a "political-diplomatic resolution" that accounts for Moscow's position, while accusing Kyiv and its European allies of seeking to prolong the conflict 13. Trump told Putin envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner remain ready to return to Moscow, though Ushakov said US diplomatic bandwidth has been consumed by the Iran conflict 13. Zelenskyy separately told Trump the two discussed the 745-mile front line and agreed to continue talks at the NATO summit opening Tuesday in Ankara, which Trump plans to attend 12. Ushakov also relayed Putin's claim that Russian forces are advancing and had taken Kostiantynivka in Donetsk, an assertion Zelenskyy and Ukraine's General Staff disputed, saying Ukrainian forces still hold the city 23.

Analysis
An actual Witkoff or Kushner trip to Moscow within 30 days is unlikely, since Ushakov himself said US diplomatic bandwidth is consumed by Iran, and Trump's readiness to convene both sides ahead of Ankara points to sustained process management rather than movement toward terms. Putin's claimed capture of Kostiantynivka, now explicitly disputed by Zelenskyy and Ukraine's General Staff, signals Moscow's intent to negotiate from asserted strength while sharpening the prior dueling-narrative framing into direct factual contradiction. The call rests on a single Kremlin readout from Ushakov, amplified rather than independently corroborated by Al Jazeera, CNN, Bloomberg, and NBC, so the account carries moderate confidence given the absence of US confirmation on the envoys' travel plans. The exchange may function primarily as scheduling for Ankara rather than substantive negotiation, and any actual Moscow envoy trip would signal Washington favors bilateral channels over NATO-coordinated pressure, leaving the summit the operative venue for near-term movement absent that signal.

5 sources

Trump offers to help end Russia-Ukraine war in Putin call Kremlin says - Al Jazeera
Putin and Trump held 'businesslike' 90-minute July 4 call, Moscow says - CNN
Trump holds 90-minute call with Putin, also speaks with Zelenskyy ahead of NATO summit - NBC News
Commentary by Aide to the President of Russia Yury Ushakov following the telephone conversation between Vladimir Putin and President of the United States Donald Trump - President of Russia (Kremlin.ru)
Putin, Trump Discuss Ukraine, Iran in Call Ahead of NATO Summit - Bloomberg