Putin Asserts Russia's Commitment to Ukraine War Objectives in Call with Trump

Putin's Firm Stance on Ukraine Conflict

In a recent telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that Russia remains steadfast in its mission to eradicate the underlying causes of the Ukraine conflict. This assertion followed the United States' temporary suspension of arms shipments to Ukraine, as reported by various news outlets.

Kremlin advisor Yuri Ushakov conveyed that Putin is determined to fulfill Russia's strategic aims in Ukraine, particularly addressing the issues that sparked the war, such as Ukraine's aspirations to join NATO. This ambition prompted Russia to initiate a large-scale military offensive against Ukraine in 2022. Nevertheless, Putin expressed his willingness to pursue a political and diplomatic resolution to the ongoing crisis.

In related developments, Leonid Pasechnik, the governor of the Luhansk region, claimed that the area is now entirely under Russian control, marking the first of four Ukrainian territories fully annexed by Russia. However, this assertion has elicited mixed reactions.

On June 21, during a public address, Putin stated that Russia is not demanding Ukraine's unconditional surrender but expects Ukraine to acknowledge the new realities on the ground. He reiterated his belief that Russians and Ukrainians are part of the same nation, asserting that "all of Ukraine is ours," while also clarifying that Russia has never formally rejected Ukraine's right to independence.