Putin-Trump phone call

Vladimir Zelensky has expressed frustration over Kiev’s exclusion from negotiations. “I spoke about this very frankly with the American side. With all due respect, I don’t want to offend anyone, but I don’t want us to be on Putin’s ‘menu.’ Understand? We are not a salad or a dessert for this man, despite his appetite.”

His remarks echo those of defense analyst Michael Clarke, who told Sky News, “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu. And believe me, Ukraine is on the menu.”

The Putin-Trump call marks “an era of new diplomacy,” says Fyodor Lukyanov, the editor-in-chief of Russia in Global Affairs, in an analysis for RT. Trump sees Ukraine as a failing asset, not an ally, pushing Kiev to make tough concessions while sidelining NATO-EU countries, he adds.

Russia is holding firm, negotiating from a position of strength. Real diplomacy is back, and Washington and Moscow are now talking as equals. 

The Putin-Trump phone call was a “resounding success,” something unimaginable just two months ago, argues historian Tarik Cyril Amar in an opinion piece for RT. Ukraine is no longer in control of its fate, as “the times of ‘nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine’ are over, forever,” with the US and Russia leading negotiations alone, he writes. 

Moscow is making goodwill gestures but offering no real concessions, reinforcing its goals in the conflict while Kiev’s NATO-EU allies watch from the sidelines, Amar says. The West’s proxy war strategy is collapsing, and a new era of US-Russia détente is unfolding. 

Read Amar’s full op-ed.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said that following the Putin-Trump phone call “the world has become a safer place.” He emphasized Hungary’s full backing of the peace agreement and expressed hope that “Brussels will not undermine the peace process.”

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has commented on the phone call, joking, “The European Union kept repeating that ‘the ball is in Moscow’s court.’ As it turned out, it was a hockey puck. And it’s in play.”

She referred to the reaction of several European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer who all used the phrase following Ukraine’s acceptance of the US ceasefire proposal last week.  

Trump supports Putin’s idea of organizing hockey matches in the US and Russia between NHL and KHL players, as part of efforts to improve bilateral relations, the Kremlin revealed.

Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has said that Kiev would support an energy infrastructure ceasefire, but needs more information.

“I think it will be right that we will have a conversation with President Trump and we will know in detail what the Russians offered the Americans or what the Americans offered the Russians,” he told reporters.

Germany’s outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz has welcomed the ceasefire on energy infrastructure agreed upon by Trump and Putin, calling it an “important first step,” adding that a “complete ceasefire for Ukraine” must follow soon.

“The next step must be a complete ceasefire for Ukraine and as quickly as possible. Of course, it is clear that we both agree on this too,” Scholz said at a press conference in Berlin alongside French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday.

Donald Trump has shared his personal comments after his phone conversation with Vladimir Putin, describing it as “a very good and productive one” in a post on Truth Social. He announced an “immediate ceasefire on all energy and infrastructure,” with efforts underway for a “complete ceasefire” and an end to the conflict. Trump stated that both Putin and Zelensky want the war to end, stating that “many elements of a contract for peace were discussed.” He emphasized that the process is now “in full force and effect” and expressed hope for a resolution “for the sake of Humanity.”

“There’s an old saying in diplomatic circles: ‘If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.’ And believe me, Ukraine is on the menu,” defense analyst Michael Clarke has told Sky News, noting the absence of Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky in the discussions between Putin and Trump.

The Ukrainian military launched an attempted incursion into Russia’s Belgorod region on Tuesday morning in what Moscow claims was an effort to “create a negative backdrop” for the phone Putin-Trump call, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces carried out five attacks throughout the day, with the latest offensive occurring from 17:30 to 18:45 local time. The assaults involved “up to 200 Ukrainian militants and 29 pieces of military equipment.” Russian forces successfully repelled the attacks, preventing any territorial gains, the statement added.