Table Stakes - July 7th

Good morning everyone,

I’m Daniel, and welcome to Table Stakes!

Here’s a look at today’s topics:

• Ukraine's Zelensky Says Latest Phone Call With Trump Is His Most Productive Yet

• Hezbollah Leader Refuses To Disarm Until Israel Withdraws From Southern Lebanon

• US & Colombia Recall Envoys As Diplomatic Rift Deepens

Ukraine's Zelensky Says Latest Phone Call With Trump Is His Most Productive Yet

_{By: Daniel Murrah, Staff Writer for Atlas}

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 4, 2025, that his most recent phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump was "probably the best conversation we have had during this whole time, the most productive." This diplomatic breakthrough couldn't have come at a better time; it happened just hours after Trump said he was very frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin's refusal to negotiate toward a ceasefire.

The differences between these two talks make the current status of diplomacy in the Ukraine war very clear. After his talk with Putin, Trump said, "I'm very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin because I don't think he's there... I don't think he's looking to stop,” but his next talk with Zelensky seems to have led to far better results. This difference shows how hard it is for Trump to make peace between two countries that are in an ever-worsening war.

Air Defense

This conversation is especially important because of the bigger picture of U.S. military aid to Ukraine. Recent reports say that supply of American weapons were delayed because the inventories were low, which raises severe doubts about Ukraine's ability to defend itself. Trump's apparent willingness to give more Patriot systems could mean a change in how the US supports the military, but it's not clear how these promises will be put into action.

Both presidents talked about the possibility of working together to make weapons and work together in the defense business, especially in drones and similar technology. This was in addition to their immediate defense needs. This is a big change from earlier talks that were mostly about short-term help. Now, the focus is on long-term strategic collaborations that could change the way the conflict works. The idea of working together on defense projects shows that both countries are looking beyond the current crisis to a day when Ukraine's defense capabilities are more closely linked to American military technology.

Trump's comments after the call made it clear that he was still committed to helping Ukraine with its defense needs. Trump was upset that Putin wouldn't budge, but he said that Ukraine will need more air defense systems because Russia was still attacking. This is a big change from some of his past statements, and it looks like Trump's support for Ukrainian defense capability is growing since Putin won't talk.

Diplomacy

Perhaps the most important part of the conversation was Trump’s and Zelensky’s agreement on the need for a "noble agreement for peace," an end to the war on fair and sustainable terms. This language indicates an understanding of the necessity to address the underlying political and cultural factors that originally led to war. The newfound commitment to diplomacy is in stark contrast to the stalemate that has existed between the United States and Ukraine for several months.

Trump seems to be more determined to work with Ukraine to find a solution now that he’s lost faith in Putin’s good will. His public statement that the talk with Putin made "no progress at all" toward ending the war, together with his view that Putin "just wants to go all the way and just keep killing people," suggests that he is becoming more set in his position against Russian stubbornness.

Trump and Zelensky agreeing to let their teams meet to talk about a few important problems suggests that there is some level of cooperation that hasn't been shown in prior diplomatic efforts. Both sides are committed to continuing the conversation through institutional channels, not just high-level discussions between principals. This shows that they are both serious about following through on what they say.

Moving Forward

This diplomatic campaign is working at this key time in the war in Ukraine. Putin's latest acts, like what officials say is the greatest drone attack of the war, suggest that he is willing to use military force to reach his war goals.

Regardless, the major repercussions are not limited to the military. The fact that both presidents are focused on working together demonstrates that they know that stopping the current battle will require more than just a truce; it will also require a full plan for regional stability. This knowledge might be very useful as diplomatic attempts go on, especially since it looks like direct negotiations between the U.S. and Russia have hit a wall.

Zelensky's declaration that this was his best talk with Trump yet could imply that the U.S. and Ukraine's relationship is about to alter. We don't know yet if this diplomatic breakthrough will really help bring about peace, but the fact that the US and Ukraine agree on something appears to be a major step forward.

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