Trump claims Ukraine is ‘militarily defeated’ after phone call with Putin over ceasefire

WorldPolitics
30 Apr 2026 • 1:55 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Trump claims Ukraine is ‘militarily defeated’ after phone call with Putin over ceasefire

  • Donald Trump welcomed Vladimir Putin's proposal for a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine to mark Victory Day on 9 May, following a "very good" phone call between the two leaders.
  • Trump supported the initiative and made the baseless claim that Ukraine was "militarily defeated” following the phone call with Putin.
  • Ukraine has urged Israel to seize the vessel Panormitis, alleging it carries grain stolen from Russian-occupied territories, a claim denied by the vessel's management company.
  • The European Union is exploring offering Ukraine interim benefits, such as increased market access and participation in EU programmes, as immediate full membership appears improbable.
  • Ukraine is producing a surplus of certain weapons and has proposed defence cooperation with the US, while the EU considers imposing stricter conditions on its €90bn loan to Kyiv.

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