Zelensky and Putin call Trump on his 80th birthday to discuss peace, with G7 summit next in line
Both Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin phoned Donald Trump on his 80th birthday, each raising conflicts in Ukraine and Iran while the US president prepares for the G7 summit in Evian.
On 14 June 2026, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky called Donald Trump to congratulate him on his 80th birthday. The two leaders discussed the war in Ukraine and potential peace measures. According to Zelensky, the conversation was "quite detailed" and lasted between 30 and 35 minutes.
The Zelensky call
Zelensky thanked Trump for American military support, from Javelin missiles to Patriot systems, and updated him on recent battlefield developments. "I wished President Trump success, especially in his efforts to end Russia's war against Ukraine," Zelensky wrote on X. The Ukrainian leader added that they had "a few good ideas that could help bring peace closer and protect human lives."
Both sides agreed to deepen the discussion during their upcoming meeting at the G7 summit, hosted by France at Evian from 15 to 17 June. Zelensky is scheduled to attend the working session on Tuesday 16 June, alongside the leaders of the G7 nations, EU Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The Putin call
Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov confirmed that Vladimir Putin also called Trump to wish him a happy birthday. The conversation focused on the US–Iran memorandum of understanding that is being negotiated. "Donald Trump said a deal is close," Ushakov told state media. The parties also "agreed that the US president's special representatives, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are currently deeply involved in Iranian affairs, will soon return to Russia."
The Iran and Ukraine files have become intertwined since the launch of the US–Israeli military operation in Iran on 28 February. Ukraine peace negotiations under US mediation have effectively stalled since then, and Zelensky's 8 June meeting with Witkoff and Kushner was aimed at restoring momentum to diplomacy.
- US-Israeli military operation in Iran begins; Ukraine peace talks stall.
- Zelensky meets US envoys Witkoff and Kushner, urging a revival of diplomacy.
- Trump turns 80; Zelensky and Putin each call him, discussing Ukraine and Iran.
- Zelensky and Trump plan to meet at the G7 summit in Evian, France.
What comes next
Zelensky and Trump will have a face-to-face discussion at the G7 summit, with Zelensky noting that they have "good ideas" to advance peace. No formal bilateral meeting had been scheduled before the phone call, but the conversation has paved the way for direct talks on the sidelines of the gathering.
The White House has not yet released its own readout of the birthday calls. The G7 summit runs from Monday 15 June to Wednesday 17 June in Evian, France.
