They spoke at length: what Zelenskyy and Putin discussed with Trump on America’s birthday
Both Presidents called their American counterparts to offer congratulations but used the occasion to discuss geopolitical issues.
"We’ve had a very good phone call," - the Ukrainian President remarked.
"Of course, President Trump and I discussed the current situation on the frontline as well as our diplomatic efforts. There is a real prospect to put an end to this war, and America’s resolve is decisive. We have agreed to continue these discussions during the NATO Summit in Ankara,"- Zelensky posted on X.
Ukrainians are grateful to the United States for all the assistance– from Javelins and Patriots to political support – and deeply value that America stands by us in defending our independence - the President of Ukraine added.
And that's all we know about the conversation between Trump and Zelenskyy.
Meanwhile in Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin also spoke with Trump on Saturday.
For an hour and 25 minutes, the Kremlin announced.
In a statement, Yuri Ushakov, a presidential aide, said that the Presidents "naturally touched upon the issue of the Ukrainian settlement", including in light of Donald Trump’s forthcoming participation in the NATO summit in Turkey on 7–8 July.
He added that Trump had reaffirmed his readiness to facilitate the earliest possible cessation of hostilities and the search for peaceful solutions to overcome the crisis.
At the same time Ushakov accused Kyiv and its European allies of “counting on extending and even escalating the conflict”, referring to Ukraine’s long-range strikes on Russian targets, mainly linked to the oil industry. The strikes have triggered fuel shortages in several Russian regions.
On Friday evening, Ukrainian forces carried out their own strikes on oil infrastructure sites near the Russian city of Saint Petersburg.
It comes after Russia launched a major attack on Kyiv earlier this week, killing at least 30 people and injuring dozens more.
Investments in defense capabilities
The 2026 NATO Summit will be held in Ankara, Türkiye, on July 7–8, 2026.
Allies will convene to discuss a range of defence-related topics, including investment, industry, and support for Kyiv.
"The task ahead is clear: to turn Allied commitments into concrete results. Increased investment, industrial production and continued support for Ukraine. All of this contributes to a stronger NATO and greater security for all of us.", - NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said.
NATO members agreed in 2025 to invest 5% of GDP in defence by the year 2035, with 3.5% going to core defence requirements and 1.5% to broader defence- and security-related investments.
Some will reach this target much earlier. In 2025 alone, European allies and Canada have increased core spending by $139 billion.
Trump has criticised Nato allies
US President Donald Trump has long been critical of his European allies' defence spending and has repeatedly called for them to invest more into their own security.
Trump, touting his friendship with his Turkish counterpart, says he’s only attending this year’s summit for Erdogan. It is the latest sign of rocky relations between Trump and his European peers.
Speaking from Brussels in June, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said Europe must take the lead on building a revamped "NATO 3.0" and creating a "real, hardline military alliance".
"NATO 3.0 is post-Cold War recognition that needs to go back to a real, hardline military alliance that has real military capabilities capable of deterring right here on the continent and taking the lead for the conventional defence of Europe," Hegseth said.
Allies hoping to use the Turkey summit to cool tensions with Trump, which have mounted over the Iran war and the US's pursuit of Greenland.
What does Ukraine expect from the summit
For now, the strategy of NATO member states remains unchanged: to provide Ukraine with the capabilities it needs to fight, and that is what they will also focus on in Ankara.
US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said in Turkey that the allies will announce new contributions to support Ukraine, but he did not go into details so as not to get ahead of official statements.
Now Kyiv needs funds first of all to produce its own weapons, as well as to buy critically needed missiles for the Patriot systems. They are the only ones capable of repelling Russian ballistic missiles that are destroying the country and killing civilians.