Washington — President Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, in a call the Kremlin said lasted nearly an hour.
The call came after the White House confirmed earlier this week the U.S. is halting some weapons shipments to Ukraine. The Trump administration said the decision was made after a Pentagon review of U.S. military support and assistance to other countries. The pause was put in place because of concerns that U.S. military stockpiles were falling too low, a U.S. official said.
The White House has not yet provided a readout of the conversation between the two leaders. But the Kremlin said Mr. Trump began his call with Putin by discussing the passage of the “big, beautiful bill” in Congress, and the two leaders discussed the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war.
The president and Putin spoke in mid-June, and Mr. Trump has expressed frustration with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as Russia’s war on Ukraine continues with no end in sight. Russia has continued to launch assaults on Ukraine, stymying Mr. Trump’s aspirations of a ceasefire.
Mr. Trump plans to speak with Zelenskyy on Friday.