U.S. President Donald Trump voiced frustration after a July 3 phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, citing no progress in halting Russia's war in Ukraine.
Trump described the hour-long conversation as unproductive, noting Putin's apparent unwillingness to end the conflict.
"I'm very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin, because I don't think he's there, and I'm very disappointed," Trump said.
The call, the sixth between the leaders since Trump’s January inauguration, did not address a recent pause in some U.S. weapons shipments to Kyiv, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.
Hours after the Trump-Putin call, Russian drone attacks struck a Kyiv suburb, igniting an apartment building, while shelling in eastern Ukraine killed five people.
Kyiv faced intense overnight assaults on July 4, with over 330 drones and multiple missiles targeting the capital, injuring at least 23 people and causing widespread fires.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who Trump plans to speak with on July 4, condemned the attacks, stating, "Russia is once again demonstrating that it is not going to end the war and terror."
Zelensky urged for increased U.S. military aid, particularly Patriot missile systems, to counter the intensifying Russian offensive.
The U.S. has paused shipments of certain critical weapons to Ukraine due to low domestic stockpiles, a move that has sparked confusion about Trump’s stance on the conflict.
Trump acknowledged the pause but emphasized ongoing support, saying, "We're giving weapons, but we've given so many weapons."
He attributed the strain on U.S. reserves to his predecessor, Joe Biden, claiming excessive prior shipments risked weakening U.S. defenses.
As diplomatic efforts falter and Russian attacks persist, Trump’s upcoming call with Zelensky aims to address these challenges, amid growing pressure to bolster Ukraine’s defense.