Trump and Putin to Speak Amidst Shifting Dynamics in Ukraine Conflict

Former President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to speak by phone on Thursday. The call was announced by Trump on his social media platform and is set to take place at 10:00 am ET. This follows a decision by a top U.S. defense official to temporarily halt arms shipments to Ukraine.

The last time the two leaders spoke was on June 14, amidst the Israeli-Iranian conflict. Prior to that, they spoke on the same topic, with Putin offering assistance in U.S. nuclear talks with Tehran.

The upcoming call occurs shortly after the U.S. indirectly aided Putin's war effort by suspending some shipments of air defense missiles, artillery shells, and other weapons to Ukraine. This pause is part of a broader effort by the Pentagon to replenish its own stockpiles. The suspended shipments include Patriot missiles, precision-guided GMLRS, Hellfire missiles, and howitzer rounds, all crucial for Ukraine's defense.

Elbridge Colby, the U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for policy, stated that the decision to halt some weapons shipments aims to provide Trump with options to continue military aid to Ukraine while also preserving U.S. forces' readiness. The pause has coincided with a significant Russian air assault on Ukraine, which has depleted some of the Patriot interceptor missiles already allocated to Kyiv. This action also contrasts with Trump's previous statements about potentially providing more Patriots to Ukraine.

At a press conference, Trump indicated he was not ruling out a new defense assistance package for Kyiv. He stated that he would "see what happens" regarding additional U.S. contributions to Ukraine's war effort, beyond the aid pledged by NATO allies.

Following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump acknowledged the "spirit" in Ukraine's fight against the invasion. He also appeared to shift blame for the war's continuation and escalation to Putin, a change from his previous stance. Trump stated that Putin "really has to end that war" due to the high number of casualties. He recounted rebuking Putin during a recent phone call, urging him to end the conflict in Ukraine.

Trump's relationship with Putin seems to have deteriorated as the Russian leader has continued attacks on Ukrainian civilians. In April, Trump urged Putin to halt the attacks and negotiate a peace deal. He has since considered imposing new sanctions on Moscow if Putin refuses to cooperate in U.S.-led efforts to resolve the conflict.