President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call on Tuesday to discuss a potential ceasefire in Ukraine. This conversation took place during a critical moment in the ongoing conflict, where both leaders expressed a desire for peace.
The call was part of a broader effort to initiate talks aimed at ending hostilities. According to the White House, the two leaders agreed to start with a 30-day halt to attacks on energy infrastructure in Ukraine. The Kremlin emphasized the need for a long-term solution, with Putin insisting on an end to foreign military support for Ukraine.
During their discussion, Trump and Putin talked about the necessity of a lasting peace agreement. The White House stated that the path to peace would begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, alongside technical negotiations regarding a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea. These discussions are expected to start immediately in the Middle East.
This call follows Ukraine’s agreement to a U.S. plan for a 30-day ceasefire, which included the U.S. lifting its pause on intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Trump’s outreach to Putin is part of his ongoing efforts to mediate an end to the Russian invasion. The previous conversation between the two leaders occurred on February 12, where they discussed visiting each other’s countries.
In a press briefing before the call, Trump indicated that negotiations had progressed significantly, hinting at discussions about dividing certain assets, including land and power plants. He acknowledged the serious situations in both Russia and Ukraine and expressed optimism about reaching a peace agreement.
Additionally, Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, recently met with Putin in Moscow. Witkoff described the talks as positive and noted a potential for a near-term peace agreement. He highlighted key issues, such as access to ports and the management of a nuclear reactor that supplies electricity to Ukraine.
The two leaders also touched on Middle Eastern cooperation, agreeing to work together to prevent future conflicts and discussing the need to stop the spread of strategic weapons, particularly concerning Iran and Israel.
This story is still developing, and further updates are expected as negotiations progress.