Key facts
- Trump described Putin call as 'businesslike'
- Trump again offered to help end the Ukraine war
- Russia claims it seized Kostiantynivka; Zelenskyy says fighting continues
- Russia accused Ukraine of rejecting a local ceasefire for soldier body handovers
US President Donald Trump described his latest phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin as "businesslike", reiterating his offer to help bring an end to the war in Ukraine. The call, the latest in a series of direct contacts between the two leaders, reinforces Trump's self-appointed role as a potential peace broker in a conflict now well into its third year.
Details of what was substantively discussed remained limited, but the characterisation of the conversation as businesslike signals a workmanlike diplomatic tone rather than a breakthrough. Trump has consistently argued that he can bring both sides to the table, though neither Kyiv nor Moscow has shown clear willingness to accept terms the other would agree to.
On the ground, the situation remains volatile. Russia has claimed control of Kostiantynivka, a key town in eastern Ukraine, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied the claim, saying fighting was continuing. Separately, Russia accused Ukraine of rejecting a local ceasefire proposal for the handover of soldiers' bodies — an allegation Kyiv has not confirmed.
For India, which has maintained a neutral stance on the conflict while keeping energy and trade ties with Russia intact, the trajectory of any peace process will have significant economic consequences. A negotiated end to the war could reshape global commodity markets, energy supply chains, and India's own diplomatic calculus between Washington and Moscow.