Putin and Trump had a phone call; Putin claimed that Russia won't step back from its war aims in Ukraine

During a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on July 3, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia would continue to pursue its objectives in the war against Ukraine, according to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov.

Ushakov said the hour-long conversation between the two presidents focused primarily on the war in Ukraine and developments in the Middle East.

Trump reportedly reiterated the importance of ending military hostilities as soon as possible. In response, Putin emphasized that Russia remained committed to seeking a political and negotiated resolution to the conflict. Ushakov noted that the Russian president stressed Russia would not abandon its goals and was determined to address what it viewed as the root causes of the war.

The Kremlin aide also mentioned that the two leaders discussed cultural diplomacy, specifically an exchange of films promoting values Ushakov characterized as "traditional" and shared by both Russia and the current U.S. administration.

Putin’s remarks came amid a surge of Russian drone and missile strikes across Ukraine in recent weeks, which have resulted in hundreds of civilian casualties and widespread destruction of infrastructure. These attacks have intensified despite repeated appeals from Kyiv, Washington, and European leaders for an unconditional ceasefire.

The phone call followed closely after the U.S. Defense Department's decision to pause shipments of critical weapons systems to Ukraine, including Patriot missiles and precision-guided munitions. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry warned that such delays could undermine the country's defensive capabilities and potentially encourage further Russian escalation.

Earlier that day, President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking from Denmark, stressed that peace could only be achieved through direct talks between national leaders. He remarked that although Trump and Putin were "completely different people," ultimate decision-making in Russia rested solely with Putin, underscoring the need for high-level engagement to reach a peaceful resolution.

According to Ushakov, while the two leaders did not explicitly discuss the possibility of an in-person meeting, the idea remained under consideration, and they had agreed to maintain ongoing communication.

Moscow and Kyiv had resumed face-to-face negotiations earlier in the year, with two rounds of talks held in Istanbul—one on May 16 and another on June 2—after more than three years without direct dialogue. Although the discussions led to prisoner exchanges, no progress was made toward a ceasefire.

While President Trump has voiced frustration over Russia’s continued aggression, his administration has thus far refrained from introducing new sanctions or applying additional pressure on the Kremlin.

Russia attacked Poltava with drones, targeting an enlistment office ablaze, 2 killed, 59 injured

On the morning of 3 July, Russian forces launched a drone attack on the city of Poltava, resulting in a fire at a military enlistment office. The strike killed two people and injured 59 others.

According to the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Volodymyr Kohut, Head of the Poltava Oblast Military Administration, the attack occurred at approximately 09:00. One of the drones hit the building of the Poltava Unified Centre for Recruitment and Social Support, sparking a fire.

Authorities confirmed that emergency services responded to the scene to contain the damage and assist the injured.

The US has halted weapons for Ukraine that were already staged in Poland

U.S. weapons shipments in Poland bound for Ukraine have been halted, including Patriot missiles, Stinger systems, and munitions for F-16s, The Wall Street Journal reported on July 2. The Pentagon confirmed the pause, citing a "capability review" to align aid with strategic priorities.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the review was a pragmatic step to evaluate munitions distribution. Lawmakers criticized the move: Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick called it unacceptable, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal called the justification disingenuous.

The pause comes as Ukraine faces intensified Russian strikes. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned Ukraine urgently needs continued support, adding that U.S. interests must be balanced with immediate needs. No timeline was given for resuming shipments.