Russia says it is willing to temporarily stop attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure but it did not agree to a general ceasefire in a call between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.
A statement from the Kremlin said that Putin had agreed to Trump’s suggestion that both Russia and Ukraine refrain from strikes on energy targets for a 30-day period – a step short of the truce the U.S. has been pushing for.
Ukraine agreed to a potential ceasefire last week.
Putin and Trump spoke for approximately 90 minutes, with American officials saying that they “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.”
Those negotiations would begin straight away in the Middle East, the White House added.
Russian officials also said that they would exchange 175 prisoners of war with Ukraine, but it appears that barriers to a more widespread truce remain. The Kremlin said it wants an end to the arming of Ukraine in the context of a general ceasefire.
Washington views a 30-day peace as a first step toward ending the three-year-long war, prompted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Kyiv is yet to comment on Tuesday’s talks between Trump and Putin.
Putin said last week he supported in principle Washington's proposal for a truce but that his forces would fight on until several crucial conditions were worked out.
Trump hopes also to secure progress towards a longer-term peace plan, which he has hinted could include territorial concessions by Kyiv and control of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Ukraine agreed to a potential ceasefire last week.
Putin and Trump spoke for approximately 90 minutes, with American officials saying that they “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.”
Those negotiations would begin straight away in the Middle East, the White House added.
Russian officials also said that they would exchange 175 prisoners of war with Ukraine, but it appears that barriers to a more widespread truce remain. The Kremlin said it wants an end to the arming of Ukraine in the context of a general ceasefire.
Washington views a 30-day peace as a first step toward ending the three-year-long war, prompted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Kyiv is yet to comment on Tuesday’s talks between Trump and Putin.
Putin said last week he supported in principle Washington's proposal for a truce but that his forces would fight on until several crucial conditions were worked out.
Trump hopes also to secure progress towards a longer-term peace plan, which he has hinted could include territorial concessions by Kyiv and control of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
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