Lucrezia Ciotti A phone call between Putin and Trump reopens talks on the war in Ukraine, while Moscow resumes air strikes on Kiev after a three-day truce. The conditions for a possible agreement, the future of negotiations, and the strengthening of Ukraine's air defense remain on the table.
Airstrikes resume on Kiev, Moscow rejects European accusations
On the ground, meanwhile, Russia has resumed its attacks on Kiev after a three-day truce observed during the US envoy's mission. An air raid siren was sounded in the Ukrainian capital, and buildings in the suburbs were hit, while the renewed bombings caused deaths and destruction.
On the aid front, the British government has announced a £100 million allocation to strengthen Ukraine's air defence before winter, including through Patriot missiles, interceptors, large-calibre munitions and drones as part of a NATO programme.
In Ukraine, moreover, Ruslan Kravchenko resigned from his post as prosecutor general , engulfed by corruption allegations.
Putin-Trump phone call: Dialogue resumes, but negotiation issues remain.
A conversation lasting about an hour between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump , described as “ frank and constructive ”, concluded the mission of American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow and Kiev.
According to Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov, the two presidents " positively assessed " the results of the weekend meetings, with Putin emphasizing the need to end the conflict with a view to " a broad restoration of relations between Russia and the US ." The Russian leader also outlined to Trump what initiatives Washington could take to promote a rapid cessation of fighting.
Volodymyr Zelensky is also aiming for a new meeting with the US president : Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhyi reported a preliminary agreement for a meeting by the end of September . Kiev intends to discuss, in particular, American air defense supplies and the possibility of continuing negotiations in a trilateral format, possibly as early as September, after the Russian Duma elections, or at least " even in the fall ."
Moscow, however, continues to reiterate its conditions regarding the occupied Ukrainian regions and Kiev's neutrality. Lavrov claims that Witkoff and Kushner confirmed Trump's position that " recognizes the reality on the ground " and " rules out Ukraine's membership in NATO ," prompting a positive Russian response and a willingness to continue the dialogue. According to Ukrainian media, the American envoys also discussed a possible mutual truce on attacks on energy infrastructure during the winter. During the meeting, Putin and Trump reportedly agreed to continue working on humanitarian issues , including prisoner exchanges, while the Russian president praised Melania Trump's efforts to reunite Russian and Ukrainian children with their families.
Ukraine War: Putin and Trump Call: "No Aggressive Plan Against Europe"
On the diplomatic front, Putin assured Trump that he has " absolutely no aggressive plans toward Europe ." According to Ushakov, the Russian president believes that " the myths about the Russian threat only serve as a cover for Europeans to increase their support for Ukraine and their own military spending ." The Kremlin continues to rule out a direct European role in the negotiations, accusing some governments of encouraging Kiev to continue the war. Dmitry Peskov called German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's " Russophobia " an " obsession, a persecution mania . " After the accusations leveled against Moscow over the drones at Leipzig airport, Merz reiterated the need to " protect the freedom " of Germans " even from Russia ."
The Russian spokesman then criticized Zelensky: " I wouldn't say Kiev is showing much flexibility, and I wouldn't even say it really wants to end this war ," while expressing hope for " a resumption of negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States ." Lavrov was even more harsh, rejecting the idea of Russian aggression against Europe: " We have no intention of attacking anyone. It's nonsense, idiocy ." The minister warned, however, that in the event of a European attack against Russia, " the war will be completely different and very short ."