During a phone conversation, Russian President Vladimir Putin communicated to former US President Donald Trump that Moscow will not alter its core objectives in the Ukraine war. This statement emerged after the US temporarily suspended arms shipments to Kyiv. Putin’s stance, conveyed by senior Kremlin advisor Yuri Ushakov, reiterated Russia’s commitment to achieving its strategic aims in Ukraine, specifically addressing the root causes of the conflict, including Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO. Putin also expressed a readiness to explore political and diplomatic avenues for resolution. Meanwhile, the Russia-backed governor of the Luhansk region, Leonid Pasechnik, declared full Russian control over the region, though this claim has elicited varied responses. Putin, speaking publicly on June 21st, stated that Russia isn’t demanding unconditional surrender but seeks acknowledgment of the ‘realities on the ground.’ He also characterized Russians and Ukrainians as belonging to the same nation, while acknowledging Ukraine’s right to independence.
