• Trump discusses Ukraine with Putin and Zelensky on his 80th birthday.
• Both leaders express desires for an end to hostilities during calls.
• Ukraine continues drone strikes causing civilian casualties in Russia.
• The G7 summit will address the war in Ukraine as a major agenda item.

On June 14, U.S. President Donald Trump spoke on the phone with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, coinciding with Trump’s 80th birthday and the ongoing war in Ukraine. During these discussions, both leaders emphasized their positions regarding the conflict, highlighting the upcoming G7 summit which will further address these issues. Putin's call lasted just under an hour, with Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov briefing that Trump was ready to influence European partners for peace talks and stressed the need to cease hostilities, according to Reuters, CBS News, SCMP, and LA Times.

Trump noted that recent Ukrainian strikes on civilian targets complicate potential peace negotiations. He expressed that a swift end to the conflict could "open the door to a truly new quality of U.S.-Russian relations." In contrast, Putin dismissed the impact of these strikes on the battlefield dynamics, demanding that if Zelensky seeks a meeting, he should come to Moscow, according to SCMP, LA Times, and CBS News.

Zelensky described his conversation with Trump as “wonderful” and thanked him for ongoing U.S. support for Ukraine. The Ukrainian president updated Trump on the strengthening of Ukraine's position along the eastern front and mentioned their discussions about potential steps toward peace. They agreed to explore more on this topic during the G7 summit, according to Reuters and CBS News.

The backdrop of these diplomatic exchanges included heightened military activity, with recent Ukrainian drone strikes resulting in civilian casualties in Russia's Oryol and Bryansk regions. These strikes highlight Ukraine's intensified campaign against Russian oil and gas infrastructure, which they argue finances the invasion. Notably, one of these strikes targeted a significant oil facility, described by Zelensky as critical to the aggressor state's reserves, according to LA Times and CBS News.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced an investigation into a sanctioned Russian tanker, marking an operational collaboration with French authorities. This action underscores the ongoing efforts against Russia’s means of funding the war, emphasizing that sanctions and diplomatic measures are crucial in the international response to the conflict, according to LA Times and SCMP.