U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday (July 3) that a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier in the day produced no progress toward ending the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, a Kremlin aide said Putin emphasized Russia’s continued push to address what it views as the "root causes" of the conflict. The nearly hour-long conversation did not touch on the recent halt in some U.S. arms deliveries to Kyiv, according to Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov. Diplomatic efforts by Washington to bring an end to the war have mostly stagnated, and Trump is facing increasing pressure — including from fellow Republicans — to push Putin more forcefully toward genuine negotiations.

Shortly after the call ended, a suspected Russian drone strike set off a fire in a residential building near Kyiv, Ukrainian authorities reported, underscoring the continuing intensity of the conflict. Explosions and heavy gunfire were also heard in Kyiv as air defense units responded to drone attacks. Meanwhile, Russian shelling in eastern Ukraine reportedly killed five people. Speaking to reporters at a military base near Washington before departing for Iowa, Trump remarked, “I didn’t make any progress with him at all.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, speaking earlier in Denmark, said he hoped to speak with Trump as soon as Friday regarding the weapons shipment pause, which had been revealed earlier in the week. Trump, on his way to a campaign-style event, denied a full stop to arms deliveries but criticized former President Joe Biden for providing too many weapons to Ukraine, potentially leaving U.S. defenses vulnerable. “We’re giving weapons... but Biden basically emptied out our country,” Trump said, adding that the U.S. still needs to ensure its own security.

The diplomatic tensions come as the U.S. pauses the supply of some critical military equipment to Ukraine, reportedly due to low stockpiles. This pause has raised concerns, especially as Ukraine braces for increased Russian offensives and escalating attacks on civilians. Putin continues to argue that his military campaign will only end once what Moscow sees as the core issues — like NATO expansion and Western military support for Ukraine — are addressed. Russia has also been pushing for greater influence over political decisions in Kyiv and other Eastern European capitals, according to NATO officials.

Ukraine was caught off guard by the U.S. arms shipment freeze, leading to confusion about Trump’s current stance — especially after he recently pledged to try and supply Ukraine with the Patriot missile defense system. On Wednesday, Ukrainian officials summoned the acting U.S. ambassador in Kyiv to stress the importance of continued American military support, warning that any delay would weaken their ability to defend against increasing Russian missile attacks and battlefield advances. According to Reuters, the Pentagon’s decision has already affected the supply of Patriot missiles, which are crucial for intercepting high-speed ballistic threats.

Kremlin aide Ushakov said Moscow remains open to further talks with the U.S., but stressed that any peace discussions must occur directly between Russia and Ukraine. This reflects Moscow’s resistance to trilateral formats — Ukrainian officials claimed that during a June meeting in Istanbul, Russian officials asked U.S. diplomats to leave the room. Ushakov also noted that a face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin was not discussed.