Ukraine-Russia war live: Zelensky hails ‘real prospect’ of ending conflict after Trump ‘offers help in call with Putin’ – UK Times

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with Trump on ending the war.

Writing on X, Zelensky said he called to congratulate Trump to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence and that the two leaders discussed the situation along the front line.

“There is a real prospect of ending this war, and America’s determination will be crucial. We agreed to continue the conversation in person during the NATO summit in Ankara,” he said late Saturday.

The Kremlin said that Putin and Trump discussed the conflict in Ukraine in a “constructive” phone call on Saturday.

Russia’s ministry of defence has published at least 10 different videos of Russian military men planting flags in different parts of Kostyantynivka, and some of these may have been videos altered using artificial intelligence, according to analysis by the Institute for the Study of War.

“The Russian MoD, along with other sources propagating possible AI-altered footage, continues engaging in a sophisticated cognitive warfare effort,” ISW mentions in its latest update.

The videos appear to be a part of the Kremlin’s systematic effort to aggrandise its claims of Russian advances.

Ukraine has vehemently denied Russia’s claims that it captured the eastern Ukrainian city.

“Of course, this is not true – it is simply yet another Russian lie designed to generate some sort of news,” Zelensky said on a call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

“If Kostiantynivka were currently under Russian control, then surely Putin would have no problem meeting me there and finding diplomatic solutions to finally end the war,” he said.

A Ukrainian drone attack struck an oil terminal in St. Petersburg on Saturday, Russian officials said, as Kyiv presses on with bombardment of Russia’s oil infrastructure.

Almost daily long-range attacks on Russian oil facilities have created a fuel crisis and heaped political pressure on the Kremlin as its all-out invasion of Ukraine stretches into its fifth year.

Gov. Alexander Beglov said the city’s Kirovsky district on the Baltic Sea was hit. He also said that air defenses shot down 72 Ukrainian drones across Russia’s second-largest city and the surrounding region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as part of Ukraine’s “long-range sanctions” against Russia. He said that Ukrainian forces also hit a military target on the island of Kronstadt, just off the coast of St. Petersburg.

“The Ukrainian defense forces hit the port oil infrastructure, which earns money for the Russian war, and there were also hits on Kronstadt — an important military target,” he said in a post on Telegram.

Ukraine struck several energy substations in Russian-occupied Crimea, causing a blackout across the entire peninsular region.

A blackout was reported throughout Crimea due to strikes on energy infrastructure, pro-Ukrainian channel Crimean Wind reported.

The strikes are part of an ongoing attempt by Kyiv to hit military infrastructure deep within Russia and occupied territories.

This is aimed at diminishing Moscow’s ability to continue waging its war.

The Ukrainian president called a bluff on Moscow’s claim of capturing the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka, calling it “another Russian lie”.

General Valery Gerasimov, the chief of Russia’s General Staff, said on Thursday that Kostiantynivka had fallen under Russian control, but Ukraine’s general staff categorically denied the claim.

“Of course, this is not true – it is simply yet another Russian lie designed to generate some sort of news,” Zelensky said yesterday about Russia’s claims on a call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

“If Kostiantynivka were currently under Russian control, then surely Putin would have no problem meeting me there and finding diplomatic solutions to finally end the war,” the Ukrainian president said.

Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) released a new video yesterday, showing drone attacking the Belbek airfield in Russian-occupied Crimea and “destroying” a MiG-29 fighter aircraft.

The video shared on Telegram was taken during a night raid on 25 June, HUR said.

Ukraine claims the losses from the drone strike “could run into tens of millions of dollars,” as both the fighter jet and specialist equipment situated nearby were destroyed.

The footage was shared just hours after Ukraine took out power substations in Crimea, plunging the Russian-occupied peninsula into darkness.

Ukraine struck the St Petersburg oil terminal and the Kronstadt Naval Base in Leningrad Oblast, which is Russia’s main Baltic Fleet base, causing fires at the oil terminal and the base overnight.

The drone attack is a significant blow as the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal is one of the largest petroleum transhipment terminals in the Baltic region, with a design capacity of 12.5 million tons of petroleum per year.

Russia uses the naval base for warship repair and maintenance and for controlling the sea approaches to St. Petersburg.

Footage published yesterday shows fire and smoke at the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal after Ukrainian drone attacks.

The strikes may have reduced the Russian oil refining industry to over 40 per cent of its capacity, Ukraine’s military said.

The Ukrainian president visited a medical facility in Odesa and met wounded soldiers and veterans there yesterday.

“It is good to see you. Thank you for your service, for defending our country, and for your courage. We are proud of you and wish you a speedy recovery,” Zelensky said

He also met veterans and graduates of Ukraine’s Superhumans rehabilitation center in Odesa.

“I’m often asked – by foreign journalists and by our partners – how Ukraine does it. How, despite all strikes and all the horrible pain, Ukrainians can keep going, refuse to give up, and remain so resilient. One of the answers is you and your example,” the Ukrainian president said.