Vladimir Putin has agreed to stop strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure for 30 days after a phone call with Donald Trump.
The call, which was held on Tuesday afternoon, marks the US president‘s latest attempt to talk Putin into agreeing to a 30-day truce in Ukraine after weeks of growing ties with the Kremlin. Speaking ahead of the call, Trump told reporters on Monday: “It’s a bad situation in Russia, and it’s a bad situation in Ukraine.
“What’s happening in Ukraine is not good, but we’re going to see if we can work a peace agreement, a ceasefire and peace. And I think we’ll be able to do it.” In preparation for the Trump-Putin call, White House special envoy Steve Witkoff met last week with the Russian president in Moscow to discuss the proposal.
Below are is list of the key points discussed between the leaders during the call, according to the White House.
“The leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace.”
“In the context of the US President’s initiative to introduce a 30-day truce, the Russian side outlined a number of significant points regarding ensuring effective control over a possible ceasefire along the entire line of combat contact, the need to stop forced mobilisation in Ukraine and rearm the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Serious risks associated with the inability to negotiate of the Kyiv regime, which has repeatedly sabotaged and violated the agreements reached, were also noted. Attention was drawn to the barbaric terrorist crimes committed by Ukrainian militants against the civilian population of the Kursk region.”
“These negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East. The leaders spoke broadly about the Middle East as a region of potential cooperation to prevent future conflicts.”
“They further discussed the need to stop proliferation of strategic weapons and will engage with others to ensure the broadest possible application.”
“The two leaders agreed that a future with an improved bilateral relationship between the United States and Russia has huge upside. This includes enormous economic deals and geopolitical stability when peace has been achieved.”
Moscow says that Putin and Trump expressed mutual interest in “normalising relations” between the US and Russia, while a prisoner swap between Moscow and Kyiv for 175 prisoners of war (on each side) was also agreed to take place on March 19. Moscow also agreed to hand over 23 gravely wounded Ukrainian soldiers.
“In connection with Donald Trump’s recent appeal to save the lives of Ukrainian servicemen surrounded in the Kursk region, Vladimir Putin confirmed that the Russian side is ready to be guided by humanitarian considerations and, in the event of surrender, guarantees the lives of Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers and decent treatment in accordance with Russian laws and international law.”
“The leaders continued a detailed and frank exchange of views on the situation around Ukraine. Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude to Donald Trump for his desire to help achieve the noble goal of ending hostilities and human losses.”
A Kremlin readout of the pair’s call mentioned a few more details – including demands from Russian officials for the US and its allies to cease all military aid. The Russian side has also reportedly demanded the cessation of all intelligence sharing, a move that would cripple Ukraine’s ability to predict future Russian attacks.
“Having confirmed his fundamental commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict, the Russian President declared his readiness to thoroughly work out possible ways of settlement together with his American partners, which should be comprehensive, sustainable, and long-term. And, of course, take into account the absolute need to eliminate the root causes of the crisis, Russia’s legitimate interests in the field of security.”
“Vladimir Putin has agreed to halt strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, Russian state media is reporting.” They say that Putin has ordered the military to stop strikes on those targets for 30 days following talks with Donald Trump.
The Kremlin readout of the Trump-Putin call states the two leaders agreed to “a proposal for the parties to the conflict to mutually refrain from attacks on energy infrastructure facilities for 30 days”.
“It was emphasised that the key condition for preventing the escalation of the conflict and working towards its resolution by political and diplomatic means should be the complete cessation of foreign military aid and the provision of intelligence information to Kyiv.”
“The leaders confirmed their intention to continue efforts to achieve a Ukrainian settlement in a bilateral mode, including taking into account the above-mentioned proposals of the US President. For this purpose, Russian and American expert groups are being created.”
“The Russian President also responded constructively to Donald Trump’s idea of implementing a well-known initiative concerning the safety of navigation in the Black Sea. It was agreed to begin negotiations to further elaborate on the specific details of such an agreement.”
“Mutual interest in normalising bilateral relations was expressed in light of the special responsibility of Russia and the United States for ensuring security and stability in the world. In this context, a wide range of areas in which our countries could establish cooperation was considered. A number of ideas were discussed that go towards developing mutually beneficial cooperation in the economy and energy sector in the long term.”
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“Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump also touched upon other issues on the international agenda, including the situation in the Middle East and the Red Sea region. Joint efforts will be made to stabilise the situation in crisis areas, establish cooperation on nuclear non-proliferation and global security.
“This, in turn, will contribute to improving the overall atmosphere of Russian-American relations. One positive example is the joint vote in the UN on the resolution on the Ukrainian conflict.”
“Donald Trump supported Vladimir Putin’s idea to organise hockey matches in the US and Russia between Russian and American players playing in the NHL and KHL.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio had persuaded senior Ukrainian officials during nine-hour talks in Saudi Arabia to agree to the ceasefire proposals. But the final contents of the deal remain under scrutiny after Trump said Washington and Moscow have already begun discussing “dividing up certain assets” between Ukraine and Russia as part of a deal to end the conflict.
Volodymyr Zelensky said in an online press briefing following today’s call that the Ukrainian side “will support this”, adding that officials would support proposals they saw as leading to a “stable and just peace”. But he crucially also said that he hoped Kyiv’s partners would not cut military assistance for his country, a key Russian demand outlined in the readout of the Trump-Putin call issued by the Kremlin.
Mr Witkoff and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt appeared to suggest yesterday that this may include the Zaporizhzhia power plant in southern Ukraine, which has been in Russia’s hands since the invasion in 2022. The nuclear power plant produced nearly a quarter of Ukraine’s electricity in the year before the war.
Discussing what he expected from the call with Putin, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday: “I think we’ll be talking about land. It’s a lot different than it was before the war, as you know. We’ll be talking about power plants, that’s a big question. But I think we have a lot of it already discussed very much by both sides, Ukraine and Russia. We’re already talking about that, dividing up certain assets and they’ve been working on that.”
In a characteristic statement following the call this evening, Mr Trump said in a statement posted to Truth Social, his social media platform, that his call with Putin “was a very good and productive one”. He said: “My phone conversation today with President Putin of Russia was a very good and productive one.
“We agreed to an immediate Ceasefire on all Energy and Infrastructure, with an understanding that we will be working quickly to have a Complete Ceasefire and, ultimately, an END to this very horrible War between Russia and Ukraine. This War would have never started if I were President!
“Many elements of a Contract for Peace were discussed, including the fact that thousands of soldiers are being killed, and both President Putin and President Zelenskyy would like to see it end. That process is now in full force and effect, and we will, hopefully, for the sake of Humanity, get the job done!”
The Prime Minister’s spokesperson said Sir Keir Starmer spoke with Mr Zelensky after the US and Russia agreed to work towards their limited ceasefire. The two spoke over the phone on Tuesday evening, they said, adding Sir Keir reiterated the UK’s “unwavering support” for Mr Zelensky following today’s negotiations.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister spoke to President Zelensky this evening. They discussed progress President Trump had made towards a ceasefire in talks with Russia. President Zelensky updated on the situation on the front line and the Prime Minister reiterated (the) UK’s unwavering support.”
No 10 had earlier welcomed “the progress President Trump has made towards a ceasefire”.
Ukrainian president Voldomyr Zelensky has been openly sceptical about Russia’s intentions of signing any truce, and accused Putin of trying to “drag out” peace negotiations after he rejected the initial proposals last week. But in new comments yesterday he appeared hopeful of a temporary “silence” to fighting and a potential lasting peace, writing on X (formerly Twitter): “Right now, we have a good chance to end this war quickly and secure peace. We have solid security understandings with our European partners. We are now close to the first step in ending any war – silence”.
Last week, Vladimir Putin had claimed he agreed with the “idea” of a ceasefire but claimed Russia needed its own security guarantees. Russia has repeatedly voiced opposition to Ukrainian membership of NATO, and the deployment of any peacekeeping force involving troops from nations belonging to alliance. He had also questioned how the truce would work in practice, and said: “If we stop military actions for 30 days, what does that mean? Will everyone who is there leave the battle?”
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