Ukraine confirms strike on missile battery plant in Lipetsk During a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on July 3, Russian President Vladimir Putin said "Russia will continue to pursue its goals" in the war against Ukraine,

Trump made ending the war in Ukraine central to his pitch for the presidency, claiming it would never have started had he been in office, and that he was well placed to bring about peace. He repeated his pledge to end the war within 24 hours of his presidency 53 times, according to CNN’s count, though has since claimed this was in “jest”.