Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump offers ‘solution’ to Putin in phone call as Kyiv hits St Petersburg oil port

President Donald Trump is reported to have held a 90-minute call with Russian president Vladimir Putin in which he offered to help the leader find a solution to the war with Ukraine. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said that Trump had made the offer in the context of his participation next week at the Nato summit in Turkey. He quoted the US president as saying that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were prepared to visit Moscow for another trip and would continue their role in negotiations. Putin is reported to have congratulated Trump on 250 years of independence. President Volodymyr Zelensky is also said to have had a call with the president to mark the occasion. Meanwhile, St Petersburg and the surrounding Leningrad region was struck by a large Ukrainian drone attack overnight on Saturday, with a local port and oil infrastructure hit, Russian and Ukrainian authorities have said. An oil terminal was struck in Russia’s second city, home to six million, although St Petersburg’s governor Alexander Beglov said there were no casualties. Zelensky confirmed that the revenue generating port had been struck, as had Kronstadt, an “important military target” more than 500 miles from Ukraine’s state border.Russia may have used AI to exaggerate claims of Kostyantynivka capture: ISW Russia's ministry of defence has published at least 10 different videos of Russian military men planting flags in different parts of Kostyantynivka, and some of these may have been videos altered using artificial intelligence, according to analysis by the Institute for the Study of War. "The Russian MoD, along with other sources propagating possible AI-altered footage, continues engaging in a sophisticated cognitive warfare effort," ISW mentions in its latest update. The videos appear to be a part of the Kremlin’s systematic effort to aggrandise its claims of Russian advances. Ukraine has vehemently denied Russia's claims that it captured the eastern Ukrainian city. "Of course, this is not true – it is simply yet another Russian lie designed to generate some sort of news," Zelensky said on a call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. "If Kostiantynivka were currently under Russian control, then surely Putin would have no problem meeting me there and finding diplomatic solutions to finally end the war," he said. Vishwam Sankaran5 July 2026 09:00Ukrainian drones hit St Petersburg oil terminal in latest long-range attack on Russia A Ukrainian drone attack struck an oil terminal in St. Petersburg on Saturday, Russian officials said, as Kyiv presses on with bombardment of Russia’s oil infrastructure. Almost daily long-range attacks on Russian oil facilities have created a fuel crisis and heaped political pressure on the Kremlin as its all-out invasion of Ukraine stretches into its fifth year. Gov. Alexander Beglov said the city’s Kirovsky district on the Baltic Sea was hit. He also said that air defenses shot down 72 Ukrainian drones across Russia's second-largest city and the surrounding region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as part of Ukraine’s “long-range sanctions” against Russia. He said that Ukrainian forces also hit a military target on the island of Kronstadt, just off the coast of St. Petersburg. “The Ukrainian defense forces hit the port oil infrastructure, which earns money for the Russian war, and there were also hits on Kronstadt — an important military target,” he said in a post on Telegram. Maryam Zakir-Hussain5 July 2026 08:49Crimea faces blackout as Ukraine strikes power stations in occupied territory Ukraine struck several energy substations in Russian-occupied Crimea, causing a blackout across the entire peninsular region. A blackout was reported throughout Crimea due to strikes on energy infrastructure, pro-Ukrainian channel Crimean Wind reported. The strikes are part of an ongoing attempt by Kyiv to hit military infrastructure deep within Russia and occupied territories. This is aimed at diminishing Moscow's ability to continue waging its war. Vishwam Sankaran5 July 2026 08:30Zelensky calls bluff on Russia's claim of capturing Kostiantynivka The Ukrainian president called a bluff on Moscow's claim of capturing the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka, calling it "another Russian lie". General Valery Gerasimov, the chief of Russia's General Staff, said on Thursday that Kostiantynivka had fallen under Russian control, but Ukraine's general staff categorically denied the claim. "Of course, this is not true – it is simply yet another Russian lie designed to generate some sort of news," Zelensky said yesterday about Russia's claims on a call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. "If Kostiantynivka were currently under Russian control, then surely Putin would have no problem meeting me there and finding diplomatic solutions to finally end the war," the Ukrainian president said. Vishwam Sankaran5 July 2026 07:30Ukraine's long-range attacks on Russian oil and energy infra Ukraine struck the St Petersburg oil terminal and the Kronstadt Naval Base in Leningrad Oblast, which is Russia's main Baltic Fleet base, causing fires at the oil terminal and the base overnight. The drone attack is a significant blow as the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal is one of the largest petroleum transhipment terminals in the Baltic region, with a design capacity of 12.5 million tons of petroleum per year. Russia uses the naval base for warship repair and maintenance and for controlling the sea approaches to St. Petersburg. Footage published yesterday shows fire and smoke at the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal after Ukrainian drone attacks. The strikes may have reduced the Russian oil refining industry to over 40 per cent of its capacity, Ukraine's military said. Vishwam Sankaran5 July 2026 07:01 Vishwam Sankaran5 July 2026 06:30Zelensky meets wounded soldiers in Odesa The Ukrainian president visited a medical facility in Odesa and met wounded soldiers and veterans there yesterday. "It is good to see you. Thank you for your service, for defending our country, and for your courage. We are proud of you and wish you a speedy recovery," Zelensky said He also met veterans and graduates of Ukraine's Superhumans rehabilitation center in Odesa. "I'm often asked – by foreign journalists and by our partners – how Ukraine does it. How, despite all strikes and all the horrible pain, Ukrainians can keep going, refuse to give up, and remain so resilient. One of the answers is you and your example," the Ukrainian president said. Vishwam Sankaran5 July 2026 06:00 Vishwam Sankaran5 July 2026 05:30Russia proposes temporary ceasefire in key front-line Ukrainian city Russia has proposed a temporary ceasefire lasting about 6 hours on Monday in the front-line city of Kostiantynivka, which it previously claimed was captured by Moscow's troops. The Russian defence ministry proposed the ceasefire from 12pm to 6pm tomorrow to facilitate the handover of fallen Ukrainian service members' bodies. Kremlin said Ukraine must notify the Russian military of its decision by noon today Moscow time. Russia claimed yesterday that the Donetsk Oblast city of Kostiantynivka was under Russian control. But Ukraine has categorically denied Russia's claim of capturing Kostiantynivka, calling it false. Vishwam Sankaran5 July 2026 05:00Netherlands to host tribunal to prosecute Russia Netherlands said yesterday that it would host a special tribunal to prosecute Russia's leadership for launching the invasion of Ukraine. Since there are currently no global legal entities authorised to prosecute what's called a "crime of aggression" for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a dedicated tribunal needs to be organised for it. "The Russian aggression against Ukraine cannot go unpunished. That is why we need to establish a special tribunal," the Dutch prime minister Rob Jetten posted on X after a call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. He confirmed that the Netherlands will serve as the host country for the special tribunal. Vishwam Sankaran5 July 2026 04:30