The President of the US Donald Trump held a high level
phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin as tensions escalate in
Ukraine.
The conversation, over 2 hours long comes just ahead of
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Washington to request US made
Tomahawk cruise missiles, intended to extend Kyiv’s strike capability deep into
Russian territory.
Trump emphasised that the US is seeking ways to pressure
Moscow toward a negotiated settlement while avoiding further escalation.
Putin warned that supplying long range missiles could
undermine peace efforts. The call sets the stage for a potential summit in
Budapest within the next 2 weeks to explore solutions and reinforce ceasefire
talks.
Ukraine’s conflict has entered its 4th year, with Russia
intensifying attacks on energy infrastructure & Kyiv responding with
strikes inside Russia.
Trump’s outreach, alongside European & NATO scrutiny,
underscores the delicate balance between military support for Ukraine &
diplomatic efforts to achieve a lasting ceasefire.
At the same time, Trump claimed that Indian Prime Minister
Narendra Modi assured the US that India would stop buying Russian oil, a move
aimed at further pressuring Moscow, though India has not officially confirmed
this.
