Washington, July 6: U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday criticized the level of military support provided to Ukraine under the previous administration, saying the United States had sent “too many weapons” and must prioritize its own security.
Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One for a campaign trip to Iowa, Trump said former President Joe Biden had “emptied out our whole country giving them weapons, and we have to make sure that we have enough for ourselves.”
Trump’s remarks come amid a pause in some U.S. weapons shipments to Ukraine, including air defense systems and precision-guided artillery, even as Russia intensifies its latest offensive. Explosions were reported across Kyiv following a new wave of missile and drone strikes overnight.
Despite the pause, Trump indicated that U.S. assistance to Kyiv had not been entirely cut off. “We’ve given so many weapons,” he said. “We are working with them and trying to help them.”
Trump also confirmed he had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier on Thursday, describing the call as “pretty long” but adding that it “didn’t make any progress” toward ending the war in Ukraine — a conflict Trump has repeatedly pledged to bring to a swift conclusion.
The Kremlin characterized the call as “frank and constructive,” according to Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov. It was the sixth publicly known conversation between the two leaders since Trump returned to the White House in January.
Ushakov said the discussion touched on a range of topics, including the Middle East, developments in Syria, and potential U.S.-Russia collaboration on energy and space exploration. Putin reportedly floated the idea of exchanging films that promote “traditional values shared by us and the Trump administration.”
On Ukraine, Putin reiterated Moscow’s key demands for any peace settlement, including Kyiv’s abandonment of its NATO aspirations and recognition of Russia’s territorial gains. He also noted Russia’s readiness to resume talks with Ukraine and pointed to earlier rounds in Turkey that resulted in limited humanitarian agreements.
“Russia will not back down from these goals,” Ushakov said. He added that the suspension of U.S. arms deliveries to Ukraine was not discussed during the Trump-Putin call.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking in Denmark after meeting with European Union leaders, said he expects to speak with Trump in the coming days. “I hope that maybe tomorrow, or close days, these days, I will speak about it with President Trump,” Zelenskyy told reporters.
The renewed diplomatic contact between Trump and Putin reflects ongoing efforts to reset ties that have remained strained since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. On July 1, Putin also spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron — their first direct conversation in nearly three years.
