Both Ukraine and Russia called US President Donald Trump on his 80th birthday on 14 June, a day before the G7 summit in France, Suspilne reported. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy offered "good ideas" for peace and agreed to meet Trump at the summit. The Kremlin said Putin spoke to Trump separately and arranged for US envoys to return to Moscow, while insisting Zelenskyy should come to the Russian capital for talks.
Ukraine offers peace proposals, G7 meeting agreed
Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram that he congratulated Trump on his birthday and discussed "many key things, including of course peace" in "quite some detail." Presidential advisor Dmytro Lytvyn said the call lasted 30-35 minutes, Suspilne reported.
"I wished President Trump success, first and foremost in his efforts to end Russia's war against Ukraine. I also thanked him for all the support America provides Ukraine, and importantly, we gratefully remember every step of this support, from Javelins to Patriots," Zelenskyy said.
Freezing the war along today’s lines is “the quickest way” to peace, Ukraine’s leader told Sky News
He added that he discussed "what can help bring peace closer now" and briefed Trump on the latest battlefield developments.
"I informed the President about the latest battlefield developments and how our position has strengthened. We agreed to discuss more during our meeting at the G7 summit. We have some good ideas that could help bring peace closer and protect lives," Zelenskyy wrote.
The G7 summit takes place in Evian, France, on 15-17 June. Both leaders attend the same working session on Tuesday.
Britain, France, and Germany back Ukraine’s peace terms and press Putin for a ceasefire
Kremlin pushes for envoys' return
The Kremlin said Putin and Trump spoke for 55 minutes the same day. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov stated at a briefing that the conversation was "friendly and frank" and that Putin congratulated Trump on his 80th birthday, TASS reported. Trump allegedly told Putin he was the first foreign leader to call on his birthday.
Ushakov claimed Trump advocated for ending the war and allegedly expressed readiness to influence Kyiv and European politicians to move in that direction. They agreed that US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would visit Moscow again "in the near future," Ushakov stated.
“This war is your personal choice”: Open letter from Zelenskyy to Putin urges end to war, warns Russia faces growing strain
Ushakov also stated that Putin told Trump that if Zelenskyy wants personal negotiations, "he should come to the Russian capital himself."
Russia's demand that Zelenskyy come to Moscow is not new. The Kremlin has maintained the same position throughout over a year of US-mediated contacts, insisting on bilateral talks on Russian terms while rejecting every multilateral or European-backed ceasefire proposal.
Witkoff has visited Moscow multiple times since early 2025. None of those trips produced a ceasefire. When the US, Ukraine, and European partners put a 22-point ceasefire plan on the table in May 2025, the Kremlin snubbed it. Russia's terms have remained unchanged since 2024: Ukraine's withdrawal from four oblasts and de facto capitulation.
