Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov stated that during a lengthy phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered his own assessment of the war in Ukraine, describing his forces as making steady gains and taking control of additional towns. The call, which took place ahead of a NATO summit in Ankara, also included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who spoke separately with Trump. Both sides have seen little territorial change recently due to drone warfare, though Russia claims to have captured the key city of Kostiantynivka, a claim Ukraine denies. Trump reportedly offered to help broker a resolution, while Putin expressed openness to diplomatic talks that respect Russia’s core demands.