Putin, Zelenskyy speak with Trump by phone as drone strikes kill 2 in Russia and UK detains tanker
U.S. President Donald Trump spoke separately with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by phone on Sunday. Two drone strikes in Russia killed at least two people, while the UK detained a tanker amid rising regional tensions. Discussions centered on peace efforts ahead of this week’s G7 summit, with Iran and civilian casualties as key topics. Meanwhile, Sudan’s drone strike toll has surged to over 1,000 civilian deaths in the first half of 2026, according to the UN.
What changed
New UN data confirms Sudan’s civilian drone strike death toll exceeds 1,000 in 2026, while Russia’s latest strikes are now confirmed to have killed at least two people.
Live updates
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Trump speaks with Putin, Zelenskyy as drone strikes hit Russia; UK detains tanker amid tensions
confidence 95%U.S. President Donald Trump spoke separately with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by phone on Sunday. Two drone strikes in Russia killed at least two people, while the UK detained a tanker amid rising regional tensions. Discussions centered on peace efforts ahead of this week’s G7 summit, with Iran and civilian casualties as key topics. Meanwhile, Sudan’s drone strike toll has surged to over 1,000 civilian deaths in the first half of 2026, according to the UN.
What's confirmed:
- U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday, June 16, 2026, coinciding with Trump’s 80th birthday.
- Discussions during the calls focused on peace efforts in Ukraine ahead of this week’s G7 summit, with Iran and civilian casualties as complicating factors.
- Two drone strikes in Russia have killed at least two people, according to separate reports.
- The UK has detained a tanker amid escalating tensions, though no further details on the vessel or reason for detention have been publicly confirmed.
- Drone strikes in Sudan have killed more than 1,000 civilians in the first five months of 2026, per a senior United Nations official.
Still unconfirmed:
- Putin and Trump discussed Ukraine and U.S.-Russia relations, according to Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov.
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Trump speaks with Putin and Zelenskyy as drone strikes hit Russia, UK seizes tanker
confidence 97%Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy each spoke by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday, coinciding with his 80th birthday. Two drone strikes in Russia killed at least two people, while the UK detained a tanker amid escalating tensions. Trump’s calls focused on peace efforts ahead of this week’s G7 summit, with discussions on Iran and civilian casualties complicating negotiations.
What's confirmed:
- Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy each spoke by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday, June 16, 2026.
- Trump marked his 80th birthday during the calls, which took place ahead of this week’s G7 summit.
- Putin’s call with Trump lasted just under an hour, according to Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov.
- Two drone strikes in Russia killed at least two people, as reported by multiple sources.
- The UK detained a tanker, though details on the vessel’s origin or purpose remain unspecified in public reports.
- Trump discussed Iran with Putin and Zelenskyy, stating a U.S. agreement with Tehran was close, according to CNBC.
- Ukrainian President Zelenskyy discussed peace talks with Trump during their call.
Still unconfirmed:
- Trump emphasized the need to end hostilities and stated his readiness to influence European allies and Kyiv toward that goal, including at the upcoming G7 summit.
- Recent strikes on civilian targets in Russia complicate a settlement, though the White House has not confirmed this claim.
- Ending the war quickly could open the door to 'a truly new quality of U.S.-Russian relations,' as quoted by Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov.