US President Trump offers to mediate Ukraine war resolution in calls with Putin and Zelenskyy
President Trump spoke with both Russian and Ukrainian leaders on July 4, offering to mediate a peace settlement, as Ukrainian strikes reportedly caused a blackout in Crimea.
The day on the war
US President Donald Trump held separate telephone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on July 4, offering to help find a solution to end the ongoing conflict. During a 90-minute call with Putin, Trump reaffirmed his readiness to facilitate a peaceful resolution, with Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov indicating that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are prepared to travel to Moscow for mediation.
Following this, Trump also spoke with President Zelenskyy, who described the call as "very good" and agreed to continue discussions at the upcoming NATO summit. The diplomatic overtures come as Ukraine reported striking several substations in Crimea overnight on July 5, leading to a blackout across the Russian-occupied peninsula.
Ukraine also carried out coordinated overnight strikes targeting Russian logistics around the Kerch Strait, hitting fuel terminals, oil infrastructure, and air defense systems. Meanwhile, Russian forces launched one Iskander-M ballistic missile, one Kh-59 guided missile, and 86 drones against Ukraine overnight on July 4.
Along the front
General Frontline
Development: Neither Ukrainian nor Russian forces made confirmed advances on July 4.
Source: ISW
Kostiantynivka, Donetsk Oblast
Development: Ukraine denied Russian claims of capturing the city, stating it remains under the control of Ukrainian Defense Forces.
Source: Ukrainian General Staff
Various Sectors
Development: Russian President Putin and military commanders made exaggerated claims of seizing 133 settlements and over 3,000 square kilometers since January 1, 2026, which ISW assesses do not match battlefield realities.
Source: ISW, Russian MoD claims
Strikes & the grid
Crimea
What: Ukraine reportedly struck several substations, causing a blackout across the Russian-occupied territory.
Toll: Widespread power outages reported
Kerch Strait area
What: Ukraine carried out coordinated overnight strikes targeting Russian logistics, including fuel terminals, oil infrastructure, and air defense systems.
Toll: Specific damage details not immediately available
Across Ukraine
What: Russian forces launched one Iskander-M ballistic missile, one Kh-59 guided missile, and 86 drones overnight on July 4.
Toll: Ukrainian Air Defense shot down 112 drones and 3 Kh-59/69 missiles during a Russian night attack on July 5.
Russian oil industry
What: Ukrainian strikes have reportedly reduced Russia's oil refining capacity to 42.47 percent as of early July 2026.
Toll: 42.47% reduction in total design capacity (Ukrainian General Staff claim)
Diplomacy & talks
US-Russia bilateral. US President Donald Trump held a 90-minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 4, offering to help find a solution to end the war.
US-Ukraine bilateral. President Trump also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on July 4, with Zelenskyy describing the call as 'very good' and agreeing to continue discussions at the upcoming NATO summit.
Mediation efforts. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov stated that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are prepared to travel to Moscow again for mediation efforts.
Russia-Ukraine proposals. Russia proposed a temporary ceasefire in Kostiantynivka for a handover of fallen Ukrainian service members' bodies and suggested President Zelenskyy travel to Moscow for talks.
Aid & sanctions
United States
Measure: New legislation (SABER Act)
Detail: A bipartisan group of US Senators introduced a bill that would allow Ukraine to use frozen Russian assets (estimated at $5-7 billion) to purchase weapons, expanding the scope of the existing REPO Act.
What we'll be watching next 72h
- NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on July 7-8, where European members and Canada are expected to formalize a pledge of €70 billion in military aid to Ukraine for 2026 and 2027.
- US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are prepared to travel to Moscow for mediation efforts following President Trump's offer.
Reporting + analyst voices: grounded via Google Search at publish time.