Putin Tells Trump Russia Is Open to New Ukraine Peace Talks After June 22; Zelensky Urges Caution

Russian President Vladimir Putin told former U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday that Moscow is prepared to resume peace talks with Ukraine after June 22—once ongoing exchanges of prisoners and fallen soldiers are completed.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, remained noncommittal on whether Kyiv would participate in the next round of talks. “The exchanges will be completed, and the parties will discuss the next step,” Zelensky said.

The conversation marked the fifth call between Trump and Putin since Trump re-entered office, signaling a dramatic shift from the confrontational stance of the Biden administration. Trump has sought to reset U.S.-Russia relations, a move that has unsettled Western allies and raised concerns about the future of American support for Ukraine.

During the call, both leaders reportedly expressed satisfaction with their personal rapport. According to the Kremlin, the two “communicate in a businesslike manner and seek solutions to pressing issues on the bilateral and international agenda, no matter how complex these issues may be.”

Trump, who turned 79 on Saturday, said in a Truth Social post that Putin had called to wish him a happy birthday—but noted that “more importantly,” they discussed the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. Trump added, “He feels, as do I, this war in Israel-Iran should end, to which I explained, his war should also end,” referencing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Zelensky Criticizes U.S.-Russia Tone, Urges Continued Support

Zelensky pushed back sharply against what he called the “too warm” tone of Washington’s current dialogue with Moscow. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he warned: “Any signals of reduced aid, or of treating Ukraine and Russia as equals, are deeply unfair. Russia is the aggressor. They started this war. They do not want to end it.”

He also voiced concerns that U.S. military and financial resources could be diverted toward bolstering Israel following its large-scale strike on Iran. “We would like to see aid to Ukraine not decrease because of this,” Zelensky said. “Last time, this was a factor that slowed down aid to Ukraine.”

Russia, Ukraine Complete Fourth Prisoner Exchange in a Week

Earlier Saturday, Russia and Ukraine completed their fourth prisoner exchange in seven days, part of a larger plan to return 1,000 wounded prisoners from each side and repatriate the bodies of fallen soldiers.

Images shared by Zelensky on Telegram showed Ukrainian servicemen—many visibly injured or with shaved heads—wrapped in national flags and reuniting with family members. Some were seen making emotional phone calls or embracing loved ones.

Russia’s defense ministry released its own footage of soldiers waving Russian flags, cheering “Glory to Russia” and “Hooray,” some raising clenched fists in celebration.

As part of the ongoing Istanbul agreements, Kyiv said it had also received 1,200 unidentified bodies from Russia, reportedly those of “Ukrainian citizens, including military personnel.” Ukraine did not confirm whether it returned any bodies in exchange.

Russia Presses Offensive in Sumy, Ukraine Claims Progress

On the battlefield, Moscow continues to reject calls for a ceasefire. It has demanded that Ukraine cede territory and end Western military cooperation as preconditions for peace—terms Kyiv has firmly rejected.

Since launching its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia’s campaign has displaced millions and devastated vast swaths of eastern Ukraine through relentless shelling.

Most recently, Russian forces intensified operations in the northeastern Sumy region, aiming to create a “buffer zone” to shield Russia’s neighboring Kursk region—previously penetrated by Ukrainian troops.

Zelensky reported that Ukrainian forces had halted Russia’s advance on Sumy and retaken one village. He also denied Moscow’s claim that its forces had entered the Dnipropetrovsk region.

According to Kyiv, around 53,000 Russian troops were deployed in the Sumy offensive.