Putin Agrees to Limit Ukraine Energy Strikes After Trump Call, No Full Ceasefire
In a recent conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to suspend attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure but refused to commit to a full ceasefire. Putin declined a comprehensive month-long ceasefire that Trump's team had negotiated with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia, stating that such a truce would only be feasible if foreign military aid and intelligence support to Ukraine ceased—conditions previously rejected by Ukraine's European allies.
Further discussions on Ukraine are set to continue in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as announced by Steve Witkoff, the U.S. envoy to the Middle East. The ongoing conflict, now in its third year, has seen Russia reclaim territory in the Kursk region that was previously occupied by Ukrainian forces.
The outcome of the Trump-Putin call marks a shift in the U.S. stance from a week prior, although both leaders agreed to pursue immediate peace talks in the Middle East. During a meeting in Jeddah last Tuesday, U.S. delegates persuaded Ukrainian representatives to accept a proposal for an "immediate" 30-day ceasefire across land, air, and sea.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was visiting Helsinki, Finland, shortly after the Trump-Putin call, expressed openness to a truce on energy infrastructure but requested more details. He later criticized Putin for rejecting a broader ceasefire following Russian drone attacks on civilian targets, including a hospital in Sumy and power facilities in Slovyansk.
Trump described his conversation with Putin as "very good and productive," noting that they discussed various elements of a peace agreement. He announced on social media that they had agreed to an immediate ceasefire on energy and infrastructure, with plans to work towards a complete ceasefire and an end to the conflict.
Zelensky previously reported that about 80% of Ukraine's energy infrastructure had been destroyed by Russian attacks. In response, Ukraine has launched drone and missile strikes on Russian oil and gas facilities.
Following the Jeddah talks, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the next move was up to Russia after Ukraine accepted Washington's ceasefire proposal. However, the White House's statement after the Trump-Putin call did not mention this agreement with Kyiv, instead focusing on an energy and infrastructure ceasefire as the first step towards peace, followed by negotiations for a maritime ceasefire and permanent peace.
The Kremlin's statement highlighted "significant issues" with enforcing any agreement with Kyiv and reiterated that ending foreign support and intelligence for Ukraine was a "key condition" for Russia. Trump and Putin agreed to technical-level talks for a long-term settlement, which the Kremlin emphasized must be "complex, stable, and long-term."
It remains unclear whether these talks will involve further U.S.-Russia negotiations or direct discussions between Russia and Ukraine. The Kremlin also mentioned Trump's support for holding ice hockey matches between U.S. and Russian players, a move to rebuild sports ties after Russia was excluded from international events following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Kyiv is likely to view the call's outcome as a delay tactic by Putin, who is imposing tough conditions on any peace agreement. Putin has previously demanded that Russia retain control of Ukrainian territories it has seized and called for an easing of Western sanctions as part of any peace deal.
Putin is testing Trump's willingness to reduce U.S. support for Ukraine, seeking to leverage this in negotiations with Kyiv. Earlier this month, the U.S. temporarily halted military and intelligence aid to Ukraine after a tense exchange between Trump and Zelensky in the Oval Office, where Trump and Vice-President JD Vance criticized Zelensky for being ungrateful for U.S. support.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron in Berlin, described the limited ceasefire plan as a crucial first step but reiterated the need for a complete ceasefire. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer reaffirmed the UK's unwavering support for Ukraine in a conversation with Zelensky following the Trump-Putin call.