Topline
Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed Tuesday to immediately implement a 30-day pause on striking Ukrainian energy and infrastructure targets after a highly anticipated phone call with President Donald Trump, though Putin stopped short of agreeing to the full ceasefire Ukrainian and U.S. officials sought.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during the plenary session of Russia Union of Industrialists … [+]
Key Facts
Trump and Putin agreed Russia will temporarily stop attacks on energy and infrastructure targets, according to a White House summary of the call.
Putin “immediately gave the Russian military the corresponding order,” according to a translation of the Kremlin’s description of the call.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who agreed earlier this month to a 30-day ceasefire in talks with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia, expressed “skepticism” about the deal in a news conference later Tuesday, but said “if there is a partial ceasefire, this is a positive result.”
Negotiations for a full ceasefire will begin “immediately” in the Middle East, the White House said, with a possible phased in approach that includes a “maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea.”
Russia made clear in the call that a “key condition for preventing the escalation of the conflict” included the U.S. resuming its pause on military aid and the sharing of intelligence information with Ukraine, according to the Kremlin, though the White House did not address those terms in its description of the call.
Ukraine and Russia will also swap 175 prisoners from each side on March 19, and Russia will transfer 23 seriously wounded Ukrainian soldiers back to Kyiv, the Kremlin said.
Crucial Quote
Trump described the conversation as “a very good and productive one” in a Truth Social post, repeating his claim that “this War would have never started if I were President!” He said “many elements of a Contract for Peace were discussed” and the process for a permanent end to the war is “now in full force and effect.”
Tangent
Trump and Putin also “stressed the need for improved bilateral relations between the United States and Russia,” that could lead to “enormous economic deals and geopolitical stability,” according to the White House summary.
What We Don’t Know
It’s unclear whether Trump and Putin discussed land and power plants seized during the war, a major factor in any permanent end to the conflict. Trump told reporters Sunday he would discuss “dividing up certain assets,” including land and power plants, with Putin, expressing confidence that “we can bring that war to an end.”
Key Background
Trump and Putin spoke for more than two hours Tuesday, their second call of Trump’s second term, as the White House seeks to negotiate a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine. The call comes after Ukraine agreed to a ceasefire earlier this month during talks with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia. White House special envoy Steve Witkoff also met with Putin last week in Moscow and told CNN on Sunday “we’re bridging the gap between” Ukraine and Russia. Putin suggested last week he needed some concessions before agreeing to a ceasefire, including addressing the “root causes” of the war, which include the annexation of the Crimea and Ukraine’s desire to join NATO. Putin has also raised concerns about escalated violence in Russia’s Kursk region, a portion of which was occupied by Ukrainian forces last year.
Further Reading
Putin Suggests Concessions Needed Before Agreeing To Ceasefire (Forbes)
Ukraine Ceasefire Talks: Trump Envoy Flies To Moscow As Russian Offensive Continues (Forbes)
Russia ‘Examining’ 30-Day Ukraine Ceasefire Plan Backed By Trump Administration (Forbes)
