Ukraine War: Putin Tells Trump Russia Will Seize Entire Donbas Region
In the Ukraine war, during a phone call with US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia will take the entire Donbas region of Ukraine and boasted of capturing the city of Kostiantynivka.
Putin-Trump Phone Call on Ukraine War
The conversation, initiated by the White House, lasted one hour and 25 minutes and covered the military situation in eastern Ukraine ahead of a NATO summit in Türkiye. [5] Putin told Trump that Kyiv and the EU have a false perception of the front line, while Russian forces advance steadily by liberating one locality after another. [1] The Russian leader expressed a preference for a political-diplomatic solution provided it takes into account Moscow’s known principles. [1] Ushakov described the contact as not only protocol but also substantive and extremely constructive. [1] The presidents also discussed prospects for resuming economic and military-political contacts between the two countries. [5] Putin sent a formal congratulatory message to Trump marking the 250th anniversary of US independence and recalled that Moscow and Washington had been allies in two world wars. [1]
Russian Advances and Ceasefire Proposal in Donetsk
Putin boasted of capturing Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast, calling the occupation an important stage in the liberation of the entire territory of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic. [5] He stated that no matter how the Kyiv regime clings to its remaining fortified areas, the Russian army will inevitably take them. [5] The Kremlin rejected a proposed meeting in Kostiantynivka and said Zelenskyy could come to Moscow if ready to take responsible decisions. [2] Russia’s Defense Ministry offered a six-hour ceasefire in Kostiantynivka to exchange bodies of fallen soldiers, with a response expected from Kyiv by Sunday midday. [2]
Vladimir Putin informs Donald Trump that Russia will seize the entire Donbas region in Ukraine. — Source: gdelt
Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Oil Infrastructure
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced successful drone strikes on Russian oil infrastructure in Kronstadt near St. Petersburg, disabling about 43% of Russia's oil refining capacity and causing $13.5 billion in losses since August 2025. [1] The Ukrainian General Staff reported that the strikes have created fuel shortages, reduced production and delayed repairs at affected facilities. [1] Russia’s administration warned that attacks on infrastructure in St. Petersburg and other regions will not go unpunished. [1] Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a tax law offering incentives for the production of high-octane gasoline to address domestic fuel shortages caused by the strikes. [2]
Daily Combat Losses and Frontline Developments
Over the past day, Russia lost 1,290 soldiers according to Ukraine's General Staff, bringing confirmed total personnel losses to 1,409,630, along with significant equipment losses including 63 artillery systems. [4] Russian forces attacked Zaporizhzhia, injuring at least five people including a ten-year-old child and damaging houses. [2] A Russian strike on a coal mine in Dnipropetrovsk region killed one miner and injured five others, forcing the operator DTEK to suspend operations. [2]
Russian forces advance in Donbas as Putin informs Trump of plans to seize the entire region. — Source: gdelt
Russian Recruitment of Students to Replace Casualties
Russia is recruiting university and technical school students into drone operator units to replace mounting casualties, with at least three confirmed student deaths in combat and an estimated 417,000 to 509,500 total Russian deaths. [3] The campaign began early this year and targets students facing academic difficulties or considering a break from studies. [3] Valery Averin, Vladislav Gorbunov and Rakhim Abdullin are among the confirmed student deaths after signing contracts for drone units. [3] The BBC, Mediazona and volunteers have confirmed 230,407 Russian deaths from open sources, with experts estimating this represents 45 to 55 percent of the true total. [3] At least 920 Russian drone operators have been confirmed killed since the start of the full-scale invasion. [3]
International and Diplomatic Reactions
Zelenskyy congratulated the United States on the 250th anniversary of independence and thanked Washington for past support in defending against Russian attacks. [2] He spoke by phone with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and requested additional ammunition for Patriot air-defense systems. [2] The Dutch government plans to host a special tribunal to prosecute Russian leadership for the crime of aggression, modeled on the post-World War II Nuremberg trials, with the tribunal expected to become fully operational in 2027. [2] Former German foreign minister Joschka Fischer stated that Ukraine belongs in the EU but that full membership would require fundamental EU reforms first. [2]
What to watch next: The NATO summit in Türkiye scheduled for 7-8 July, where the Ukraine war settlement is expected to be discussed, and the planned start of operations for the Dutch-hosted special tribunal on Russian aggression in 2027.
