Trump Tells Putin US Ready to Help End Ukraine War During 90-Minute Phone Conversation

US President Donald Trump has offered American assistance in finding a political solution to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war during a 90-minute telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to the Kremlin.

The call, which took place on Saturday as Putin extended Independence Day greetings to Trump, also included discussions on the upcoming NATO summit scheduled to be held in Ankara, Turkey, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said while briefing reporters on Sunday.

According to Ushakov, Trump reiterated his willingness to work towards bringing an end to the conflict in Ukraine and expressed readiness to support efforts aimed at achieving a negotiated settlement.

"The American president once again confirmed his readiness to work towards a rapid end to the fighting and find solutions to overcome the crisis," Ushakov said, describing the conversation as "business-like and quite constructive."

He added that Russia continued to favour what it called a "political-diplomatic resolution" of the conflict, provided any settlement takes into account Moscow's core strategic interests.

The latest conversation comes amid renewed diplomatic activity surrounding the Ukraine conflict and ahead of the NATO summit, where the war is expected to remain one of the alliance's principal agenda items.

Ushakov said the two leaders also exchanged views regarding Trump's expected participation in the summit in Ankara next week, though no additional details of those discussions were disclosed.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that he had also spoken with Trump, although the Ukrainian presidency did not immediately provide details of their conversation.

The Kremlin briefing also included fresh accusations against Ukraine and its European partners. Ushakov alleged that Kyiv and its Western allies were seeking to prolong and escalate the conflict through continued military operations.

He specifically referred to Ukraine's long-range drone strikes targeting Russian oil infrastructure, which Moscow claims have disrupted fuel supplies in several regions.

According to Ushakov, Putin used the conversation to present what he described as the "real situation" on the battlefield, asserting that Russian forces were continuing to make territorial gains in eastern Ukraine.

Russian military commanders had informed Putin on Friday that Russian troops had captured the strategically significant city of Kostiantynivka in Ukraine's Donetsk region.

However, Ukraine has rejected that claim. On Saturday, both President Zelenskyy and Ukraine's General Staff stated that Ukrainian forces remained in control of the city and continued to defend their positions.

The differing battlefield narratives underscore the continuing information war accompanying the military conflict, with both Moscow and Kyiv issuing conflicting accounts of developments on the ground.

Russia has consistently maintained that any future peace agreement must recognise its control over the Donbas region, including territories currently occupied by Russian forces. Ukraine has firmly rejected those demands, insisting that its internationally recognised borders remain non-negotiable.

Last month, Zelenskyy publicly invited Putin to hold direct face-to-face talks in an effort to explore possible avenues for ending the conflict. The Kremlin, however, declined the proposal, indicating that such a meeting was not under consideration.

Trump has repeatedly stated that he wants to see the war brought to an end through negotiations and has emphasised the need for renewed diplomatic engagement between the two sides.

The latest phone call signals continued high-level contacts between Washington and Moscow even as fighting persists on the battlefield. Whether Trump's latest outreach results in renewed peace efforts remains uncertain, with both Russia and Ukraine continuing to maintain sharply different positions on the conditions required for a negotiated settlement.

In a rare bipartisan rebuke, the US Senate on Wednesday passed a resolution calling on President Donald Trump to stop further military action against Iran, marking the first such congressional intervention under the 1973 War Powers Act.

The measure cleared the Senate by a narrow 50-48 vote, with four Republican senators joining Democrats in support. It had already received approval in the House of Representatives earlier. The resolution seeks to require congressional approval for any additional military operations against Iran.

This development comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts following the recent US-Iran agreement. The White House, however, quickly dismissed the resolution's impact, stating it has no legal binding and that major military operations related to the conflict have already concluded. Administration officials asserted that the President retains broad authority on national security matters.

The vote highlighted deepening divisions within the Republican Party during Trump's second term, with the support from four GOP lawmakers seen as the first major internal break on a key foreign policy issue.

Rubio in Gulf for Damage Control

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in the United Arab Emirates as part of a regional tour that also includes Bahrain and Kuwait. The visit aims to reassure Gulf allies worried about the implications of the US-Iran deal, particularly its potential to boost Iran's regional influence around the Strait of Hormuz.

Gulf partners have expressed concerns over the absence of firm restrictions on Iran's missile programme and reports of a possible $300 billion reconstruction package for Tehran. Rubio, received by the US Ambassador to the UAE in Abu Dhabi, is expected to address these issues directly and seek broader backing for the agreement.

Shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz has shown signs of recovery, with vessel crossings nearly tripling week-on-week. Several Indian-linked ships have successfully transited the waterway since the June 17 agreement, while crude oil prices eased slightly on hopes of normalised energy flows.

Trump's Mixed Signals

President Trump, meanwhile, continued to strike a tough tone. He warned Iran against violating the agreement and claimed Tehran has agreed to international inspections of its nuclear sites. "If they back down, I will cancel the conversation now," Trump said during remarks in Pennsylvania. He also suggested the US could "finish the job" in less than a week if Iran is not "reasonable."

On the other hand, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian ruled out including the missile programme in any future talks, calling it a key pillar of national security. He made the remarks during a visit to Pakistan, where Russian President Vladimir Putin was also present for discussions on regional security.

Broader Regional Ripples

The Senate vote comes as other developments continue to unfold. A UN commission of inquiry released a report alleging that Israeli actions against Palestinian children in Gaza may amount to genocide and war crimes, prompting strong reactions from Palestinian authorities. Separately, Syrians pushed back against suggestions of involving their country in confronting Hezbollah in Lebanon.

In the energy sector, Qatar said LNG production would resume within weeks after earlier disruptions.

The Senate resolution, though largely symbolic according to the White House, is being watched closely for its political message. It reflects growing congressional unease over potential escalation in West Asia even as diplomacy takes centre stage.

As trading and diplomatic engagements continue, further clarity is expected on how the US administration balances domestic political pushback with its strategic goals in the region. Market participants and regional players will be tracking the next steps closely.

A fresh controversy has emerged in Pakistan’s political discourse after a media report alleged that the removal of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2022 was not merely the result of a parliamentary no-confidence motion, but part of a broader geopolitical strategy involving the United States and the Pakistan military establishment.

The report, published by an international media outlet, claims that tensions between Washington and Islamabad escalated after Imran Khan’s visit to Moscow on 24 February 2022, the same day Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine. According to the report, the visit angered the United States, which expected Pakistan to take a clear anti-Russia stance on the conflict. Imran Khan’s government, however, maintained a neutral position on the Russia-Ukraine war, refusing to directly condemn Moscow. This, according to the report, marked a turning point in US-Pakistan diplomatic relations.

The allegations further claim that on 7 March 2022, a key meeting took place in Washington between Pakistan’s then ambassador Asad Majeed Khan and US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu. During this interaction, Lu reportedly conveyed that if Imran Khan were removed through a no-confidence vote, the United States would “forgive everything” and restore normal relations. This alleged communication later became central to Pakistan’s domestic political debate and formed the basis of the so-called “Cypher case,” which Imran Khan repeatedly cited as evidence of foreign interference in his removal.

According to the report, a lunch meeting in Washington further intensified pressure, where concerns were raised about Pakistan’s foreign policy direction under Imran Khan. The US side reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with Pakistan’s stance on Russia and warned of diplomatic isolation if policy alignment did not change. The timeline presented in the report suggests that just 33 days after the alleged diplomatic exchange, on 9 April 2022, Imran Khan lost power following a successful no-confidence motion in Pakistan’s parliament. Shortly after, Shehbaz Sharif became the new Prime Minister.

The report also highlights subsequent political developments in Pakistan, suggesting that the country’s internal power structure underwent significant changes after Imran Khan’s removal. These include leadership transitions within the military establishment and increased political instability, including mass protests and legal cases against PTI leadership. In November 2022, Pakistan’s army leadership changed when General Asim Munir replaced General Qamar Javed Bajwa as Chief of Army Staff. Imran Khan has previously alleged that this appointment was politically influenced, though no official confirmation has supported the claim.

In May 2023, Imran Khan was arrested in a corruption case, triggering widespread protests and unrest across the country. The political situation further intensified when his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), faced restrictions and internal fragmentation ahead of the 2024 general elections. Despite electoral setbacks, PTI-backed independent candidates reportedly performed strongly in the polls, but a coalition government was eventually formed by rival parties Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

The report also suggests that Pakistan’s relations with the United States improved significantly after Imran Khan’s removal. Bilateral cooperation reportedly expanded into strategic, economic and defense-related areas, marking a shift from the earlier strained ties. However, these claims remain politically sensitive and highly contested. The United States has consistently denied allegations of orchestrating regime change in Pakistan, maintaining that the 2022 political transition was an internal constitutional process.

Imran Khan, on his part, has repeatedly maintained that his government was removed due to a foreign-backed conspiracy. He has linked the alleged “Cypher” diplomatic communication to his claim that external pressure played a decisive role in the no-confidence vote. The new report has reignited debate within Pakistan’s political landscape, particularly among supporters of PTI, who argue that the allegations validate long-standing claims of foreign interference. PTI leaders have described the report as further proof supporting their stance on the Cypher controversy.

Imran Khan, who has been in prison since August 2023, continues to face multiple legal cases. He has been convicted in several cases, including the Al-Qadir Trust case and earlier Cypher-related charges, though some convictions have been overturned or suspended by higher courts. As political tensions continue, the narrative surrounding Imran Khan’s ouster remains deeply polarised, reflecting broader divisions within Pakistan’s politics and its complex relationship with global powers.

Putin’s Beijing visit holds more strategic weight than Trump’s ‘performative’ trip, state media claims

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to arrive in China this week for a high-stakes bilateral summit with Xi Jinping, a development Chinese state media is already characterizing as far more substantive than US President Donald Trump’s recent visit to the country.

Strategic balancing act in Beijing

The Kremlin and Beijing have both confirmed that the Russian President will be in the Chinese capital between May 19 and 20. The visit, which marks Putin’s first foreign trip of the year, comes on the heels of Trump’s departure from China, pointing to a deliberate effort by Beijing to manage its ties with the world's two largest nuclear powers simultaneously.

While the American president's stopover was heavy on ceremony, local commentators and regional outlets like the South China Morning Post indicate that the upcoming Sino-Russian dialogue will tackle core geopolitical frictions. Local authorities have scaled up security protocols around the capital ahead of the arrival of the Russian delegation on Tuesday morning.

Heavy agenda on Ukraine and arms control

According to officials familiar with the scheduling, the primary focus of the closed-door meetings between Xi and Putin will revolve around the dragging conflict in Ukraine and the future of international nuclear arms control agreements. The timing is particularly notable given that Donald Trump recently proposed a tentative three-way arms framework involving Washington, Moscow, and Beijing.

Trump had previously noted that Russia’s expanding nuclear capabilities remain a shared concern for both Western nations and Asian powers. However, sources suggest Beijing is unlikely to commit to any US-led tripartite framework without securing major concessions first. Apart from the strategic dialogue, Putin is also slated to hold a separate briefing with Chinese Premier Li Qiang to review bilateral trade targets.

Sino-Russian Bilateral Trade Record

| Metric (Last Year)   | Value (USD)           |

| Total Trade Turnover | 228.1 Billion         |

| Russian Trade Surplus| 21.49 Billion         |

| Year-on-Year Surplus | +55% vs 2024          |

Deeper economic alignment amid sanctions

The economic partnership between the two neighbors has seen a massive surge since the outbreak of the Ukraine war, primarily driven by Western sanctions that forced Moscow to pivot its trade entirely toward Asia. Initial reports indicate that trade turnover between the two nations hit a record $228.1 billion last year, with Russia locking in a comfortable surplus.

China has steadily increased its imports of discounted Russian crude, coal, and liquefied natural gas. In return, consumer markets in Moscow and St. Petersburg have been flooded with Chinese automotives, heavy machinery, and semiconductors, effectively replacing Western brands. This economic lifeline continues to draw heavy criticism from Washington, which accuses Beijing of indirectly fueling Russia's military economy.

Power of Siberia pipeline on the table

Diplomatic sources say a crucial talking point during the May 19 session will be the long-delayed Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline project. Russia has been pushing hard to finalize the technicalities of this massive infrastructure asset, which is designed to channel 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from the Yamal Peninsula to northern China via Mongolia.

"The pipeline remains a critical long-term priority for Moscow as it seeks permanent alternatives to its lost European markets," a regional energy analyst noted. "If finalized, it could fulfill the energy needs of nearly 200 million Chinese households."

Mideast tensions provide economic cushion

The summit unfolds against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Middle East involving the US, Israel, and Iran, which has threatened trade flows through the vital Strait of Hormuz. While the threat of a wider maritime blockade has raised fears of a global recession, the subsequent spike in international oil prices has provided a temporary fiscal cushion for the Kremlin.

The two leaders have met more than 40 times since Xi assumed office in 2013, establishing what both describe as a "no-limits" partnership aimed at pushing back against a US-dominated unipolar global structure. Following the conclusion of the Beijing meetings, the joint delegation is expected to release a statement on a "multipolar world order" before Putin departs mid-week.