Any conversation between the two would mark the first time a sitting U.S. president and Putin have spoken since the war in Ukraine began, although former President Joe Biden held phone calls with Putin multiple times in the leadup to Moscow's invasion to urge Putin against it.

President Donald Trump has said multiple times that the war in Ukraine would have never broken out had he been in office.

Putin referred to a decree Zelensky signed in September 2022 that declared negotiations with Moscow impossible after Russia said it had annexed four Ukrainian regions, which it still does not fully control. Putin said the decree showed Ukraine was not interested in peace negotiations and would nullify any agreement made unless it was revoked.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has addressed the recent halt of U.S. aid under the Trump administration, emphasising the importance of Ukraine's involvement in any peace talks with Russia. Following the announcement that military assistance would be paused,