Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Kremlin said President Donald Trump spoke separately with the Ukrainian and Russian leaders as efforts to end the war remained stalled, with Kyiv and Moscow deadlocked over key issues.The calls came on July 4, as the United States marked the 250th anniversary of its independence.While there was no immediate comment from the White House on either of the calls, both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy adviser, Yury Ushakov, said Trump remained willing to continue his mediation efforts to end the war in Ukraine, now well into its fifth year."There is a real prospect to put an end to this war, and America's resolve is decisive," Zelenskyy wrote on X, following what he described as a "very good" conversation with Trump.Zelenskyy also said he had briefed the US president on the latest battlefield developments in Ukraine and announced the two leaders had agreed to "continue discussions" about the possible resolution to the conflict during next week's NATO summit in Ankara.
In recent months, Kyiv has stepped up its long- and medium-range strike campaign that has caused nationwide fuel shortages inside Russia, leaving at least 17 regions imposing mandatory restrictions on gasoline and diesel sales.On July 4, Ukrainian drones struck St. Petersburg's oil terminal -- a major Baltic fuel hub -- and nearby port infrastructure. Russian authorities said air defenses repelled the attack and reported only minor damage, while Ukraine said the strikes targeted strategic energy infrastructure.With the fuel shortages fueling discontent among Russians who had previously been largely insulated from the country's all-out war against Ukraine, the Kremlin has increasingly sought to shift attention to what it portrays as successes on the battlefield.
