US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have spoken on the phone again – but there has been no breakthrough. According to both sides, no concrete progress was made on the ongoing fighting in Ukraine or on the issue of Iran.

“I made no progress with him,” Trump said Monday during a brief press appearance at an air force base near Washington before leaving for an appointment in Iowa. He said he spoke with Putin at length about “many issues,” including the war in Ukraine and Iran’s influence in the region.

US arms aid to Ukraine remains a particularly sensitive issue. Trump emphasized that the United States would continue to supply weapons, even though “a great deal has already been sent.” He renewed his criticism of his predecessor Joe Biden, whom he accuses of jeopardizing US military readiness through massive arms deliveries.

The Russian side presented the conversation somewhat differently: According to Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov, the issue of US arms deliveries to Kyiv did not come up during the hour-long phone call. Putin reportedly reiterated that Russia was drawing attention to the “root causes” of the conflict and would continue to seek a political solution.

Moscow is fundamentally open to further talks with Washington, Ushakov emphasized. However, peace negotiations could only be conducted between Russia and Ukraine themselves. A direct meeting between Trump and Putin is not currently planned and was not discussed during the conversation.

The conversation between the two presidents shows that even if the tone remains businesslike, the positions on key issues remain far apart. A turning point in the Ukraine war is therefore not in sight.

Image: APA