Trump and Putin Focus on Strengthening U.S.-Russia Ties During Phone Discussion
Washington— President Trump announced that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to an "immediate ceasefire on all energy and infrastructure" in Ukraine during an extended phone conversation on Tuesday. However, Russia has not consented to a full 30-day ceasefire as Ukraine has proposed.
Shortly after their discussion, air raid alarms were heard, and explosions occurred in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital. Both the White House and the Kremlin stated they would start negotiations "immediately" to work towards a broader ceasefire. According to a Kremlin statement, a crucial step towards resolving the conflict involves halting foreign military support and intelligence sharing with Kyiv. The White House did not include this detail in their summary, nor did they mention Trump's response.
"My conversation today with President Putin of Russia was very positive and productive," Trump shared on Truth Social. "We agreed on an immediate ceasefire concerning energy and infrastructure, with the goal of quickly achieving a complete ceasefire and ultimately ending this terrible war between Russia and Ukraine. We discussed many aspects of a peace agreement, including the tragic loss of soldiers' lives, and both President Putin and President Zelenskyy desire to see this come to an end."
The call lasted at least 90 minutes, as suggested by White House updates, though the precise duration remains unspecified.
"Today, President Trump and President Putin discussed the necessity for peace and a ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict," read a White House statement. "Both leaders concurred that the conflict must conclude with a lasting peace. They also highlighted the importance of enhancing bilateral relations between the United States and Russia. The resources spent on this war by Ukraine and Russia would be better allocated to their citizens' needs. The leaders agreed that the path to peace begins with a ceasefire on energy and infrastructure, alongside technical talks on implementing a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, leading to a full ceasefire and enduring peace. These negotiations will commence immediately in the Middle East."
The White House also mentioned that Trump and Putin agreed on the potential benefits of improved U.S.-Russia relations, including significant economic opportunities and geopolitical stability once peace is achieved.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Trump has his contact information and can reach out anytime.
"We are cautious about trusting the Russians," Zelenskyy remarked on Tuesday. "There is no trust in Putin. That's why I emphasize the need to understand the technical aspects to ensure it doesn't rely solely on their willingness."
On Monday, prior to the call, Trump noted that U.S. officials are engaged in "very serious discussions" with Russia regarding "land that would be kept and lost." "You're essentially defining the borders of a country," he commented.
Trump also mentioned on Monday that the negotiations are complex and expressed a desire to meet with Putin eventually.
Last week, U.S. and Ukrainian representatives met in Saudi Arabia and suggested a 30-day ceasefire. While Putin expressed support for the ceasefire idea in principle, he did not commit to an agreement, stating that further discussions are necessary.