President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to an immediate pause in strikes targeting energy and infrastructure in the ongoing Ukraine war following a lengthy phone call on Tuesday.
However, Putin did not support a broader 30-day ceasefire, which the U.S. administration has been advocating.
The White House described the agreement as the first step toward a “movement to peace”, with hopes for a Black Sea maritime ceasefire and eventually a comprehensive end to hostilities.
Despite this development, Putin reiterated his demands, which include Ukraine renouncing any prospects of joining NATO, reducing its military, and protecting The Russian language and culture.
The Kremlin also stated that Putin demanded an end to foreign military and intelligence assistance to Ukraine.
Following the call, air raid alerts sounded in Kyiv, and explosions were reported in the city. Local authorities urged residents to seek shelter.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed openness to peace talks but stressed the need for negotiation transparency.
He warned that attempts to negotiate without Ukraine’s involvement would be “unproductive.”
During the call, Putin informed Trump that 175 prisoners of war from each side would be exchanged on Wednesday, along with 23 wounded Ukrainian soldiers being returned home.
The strike pause follows Trump’s efforts to push for a 30-day ceasefire, a proposal Ukraine agreed to during talks in Saudi Arabia last week led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
However, Zelenskyy has remained cautious about Putin’s intentions.
Trump has made ending the war a top priority, even at the risk of straining ties with American allies who believe Putin should face consequences for his invasion.
In preparation for the Trump-Putin talks, White House special envoy Steve Witkoff visited Moscow last week to discuss the proposed ceasefire.
Trump claimed that both nations have begun discussing how to divide assets between Ukraine and Russia as part of a peace deal.
He had previously stated that control of land and power plants would be key discussion points.
The talks occurred on the anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, a move that set the stage for the 2022 invasion.
Discussions reportedly included the fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, a vital energy source for Ukraine that has been caught in the crossfire since Russia seized it.
Following a February 28 dispute between Trump and Zelenskyy at the White House, Trump temporarily cut off some military intelligence-sharing and aid to Ukraine, which was restored after Ukraine accepted the 30-day ceasefire framework.
Trump has repeatedly stated that Putin holds the upper hand in negotiations, claiming the Russian leader “has the cards” while Zelenskyy does not.
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The White House also confirmed that Trump and Putin discussed Middle East tensions, agreeing that Iran must never be in a position to destroy Israel.
Additionally, Trump voiced support for Putin’s idea of organizing hockey matches involving teams from the NHL and the Kontinental Hockey League between American and Russian players.
