US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had a “very good” and “frank” phone conversation lasting just over an hour, during which they discussed the next steps in a US-led initiative to halt Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s request for additional air defense systems, with Trump agreeing to collaborate on securing available resources, particularly from European allies.
As part of the ongoing diplomatic efforts, Ukraine has formally committed to a limited suspension of strikes on energy and infrastructure, with further negotiations expected to potentially extend the pause to the Black Sea and, ultimately, work toward a full ceasefire.
Zelensky reaffirmed Ukraine’s openness to an unconditional ceasefire, stating that the country remains committed to pursuing steps to achieve peace.
Meanwhile, Trump suggested that US ownership of Ukraine’s electrical grid and nuclear power plants “could be highly beneficial” and serve as the “best protection” for Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.
The leaders also addressed several key concerns, including the security situation in Russia’s Kursk region and humanitarian issues, such as the fate of abducted children and prisoners of war.
Further discussions are expected to take place in Saudi Arabia “in the coming days,” with the primary focus believed to be negotiations between the US and Russia.
The White House Press Secretary confirmed that US intelligence sharing regarding Ukraine’s defense will continue but declined to comment on minor discrepancies between the US and Russian summaries of Trump’s recent call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump halts program to track abducted Ukrainian children
Democratic US lawmakers are to urge President Donald Trump’s administration to reinstate a program that monitors the abduction of thousands of Ukrainian children by Russia and to impose sanctions on those responsible for this human rights violation.
Lawmakers say as the Republican president’s administration cuts a broad range of US government programs and most foreign aid, it has also terminated a government-funded initiative run by Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab (Yale HRL), which tracked the mass deportation of children from Ukraine.
That decision meant researchers have lost access to a trove of information, including satellite imagery and other data, about some 30,000 children taken from Ukraine.
Trump’s termination of the program was first reported in The Washington Post. It became public the same day that Trump had spoken by telephone to Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which Russia stopped short of agreeing to a 30-day cessation of hostilities.
A person familiar with the tracking program said the cancellation of the State Department contract with Yale HRL has resulted in the deletion of $26 million of war crimes evidence, a move which would help protect Putin.
Ukraine has called the abductions of tens of thousands of its children taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territory without the consent of family or guardians a war crime that meets the UN treaty definition of genocide.
These are the key developments on day 1,120 of Russia’s war on Ukraine:
In the Sumy Region, Ukraine, Russian drone strikes damaged two hospitals in northeastern Ukraine’s Sumy region. In a separate attack on a residential building, a 29-year-old man was killed, and three others were injured, regional authorities reported.
In the Kyiv region, Governor Mykola Kalashnyk confirmed that Kremlin drones damaged multiple houses near the Ukrainian capital, leaving a 60-year-old man injured.
Ukraine’s state railway company, Ukrzaliznytsia, reported that Russian forces targeted its power system twice in the city of Dnipro. The first strike occurred just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged a 30-day halt on energy infrastructure attacks. A second strike injured four people.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, condemned Russia’s continued strikes, stating, “Russia is attacking civilian infrastructure and people right now.”
Russia claimed its defense units thwarted a Ukrainian drone attack on its energy infrastructure, shooting down seven of its own drones following a ceasefire agreement reached in a call between US President Donald Trump and President Putin.
Kyiv’s military reported downing 72 of the 145 Russian drones launched overnight. Additionally, 56 drones were reportedly “lost” due to electronic warfare.
President Zelensky stated that 40 drones were launched at Ukraine just hours after Trump and Putin’s call. Since the first round of ceasefire talks in Saudi Arabia, Moscow has reportedly fired over 1,300 guided bombs, eight missiles, and about 66 long-range drones on Kyiv.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense reported destroying 57 Ukrainian drones overnight, with 35 shot down over the Kursk region. A drone attack in Russia’s Krasnodar region sparked a small fire at an oil depot in the village of Kavkazskaya.
The Kremlin accused Kyiv of attempting to “derail” the limited ceasefire by launching a “deliberate” attack on the Russian oil depot.
A Russian soldier was killed, and four others were injured due to Ukrainian shelling in Belgorod’s Krasnoyaruzhsky district, according to regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
A Moscow court sentenced five Ukrainian soldiers to up to 17 years in prison on “terrorism” charges related to Kyiv’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region.
Ceasefire and Diplomatic Efforts
President Trump and President Zelensky discussed Trump’s recent conversation with Putin. The White House confirmed that Zelensky agreed to a partial ceasefire and requested additional air defense support, which Trump pledged to help secure from European allies.
Washington announced that it has moved beyond its previously negotiated rare minerals deal with Ukraine and is now fully focused on brokering a peace agreement between Kyiv and Moscow. Trump suggested that the US take control of Ukraine’s power plants to ensure their security, according to the White House.
The Ukrainian president accused Putin of rejecting a full ceasefire proposal despite public claims to the contrary. He urged the international community to counter Moscow’s continued aggression.
Following calls with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Zelensky reaffirmed confidence in European support, stating, “We are in constant communication. I am confident that there will be no betrayal from our partners.”
Trump’s Middle East special envoy, Steve Witkoff, told Fox News that a US delegation, led by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, will meet with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia over the weekend to continue negotiations. The talks are expected to focus on energy and infrastructure security.
Military Developments
The German government is set to release $3.3 billion in additional military assistance to Ukraine, after outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz had previously blocked the funding, according to Reuters.
Russia and Ukraine completed a prisoner swap brokered by the United Arab Emirates. Moscow returned 175 Ukrainian prisoners of war, along with 22 severely wounded personnel, while Kyiv handed over 175 Russian soldiers.
Compiled by Ana Dumbadze
