Putin’s Message to Trump: No Backing Down on Ukraine Aims

Vladimir Putin, in a phone conversation with Donald Trump, made it clear that Russia will not deviate from its goals in the Ukraine conflict. This occurred after the US temporarily suspended arms shipments to Ukraine. Senior Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov relayed that Putin reiterated Russia’s intention to achieve its strategic aims, particularly addressing the root causes of the conflict, including Ukraine’s NATO aspirations. Putin also expressed openness to political and diplomatic settlements. Concurrently, the governor of the Luhansk region, Leonid Pasechnik, announced that the region is fully under Russian control. At a public event on June 21, Putin clarified that Russia does not seek unconditional surrender from Ukraine but seeks acknowledgment of existing realities, while also emphasizing the shared heritage of Russians and Ukrainians while recognizing Ukraine’s right to independence.