Vladimir Putin agreed in a phone call with Donald Trump to halt attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure for 30 days, as announced by both the White House and the Kremlin. This marks the second conversation since Trump began his second term on January 20, 2025.
“The leaders agreed that the move toward peace will begin with a ceasefire on energy and infrastructure facilities, as well as technical negotiations on implementing a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, a total ceasefire, and a permanent peace agreement,” stated the White House.
According to the statement, these negotiations will commence immediately in the Middle East.
The Russian state agency TASS reported that Putin issued orders to the Russian military to pause attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. However, just a day later, reports confirmed renewed Russian strikes on at least eleven Ukrainian regions, while Kyiv launched an attack on a Russian oil depot.
Details of the Call
The phone call between Trump and Putin began at 10:00 AM Washington time (14:00 GMT) and lasted about two hours. The Kremlin described it as a “frank exchange of views on the situation in Ukraine.”
“A key condition for preventing escalation and working toward a resolution through political and diplomatic means should be the total cessation of foreign military aid and intelligence support to Kyiv,” stated the Kremlin. Putin also emphasized the need to stop “the rearming of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.”
Trump called the conversation “very good and productive” in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.
“Many elements of a Peace Contract were discussed, including the fact that thousands of soldiers are dying, and both President Putin and President Zelensky want this to end. That process is now fully underway, and hopefully, for the sake of humanity, we will achieve it!” Trump wrote.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking from Finland, stated that he supported the idea of a truce but needed more “details” and demanded the release of all Ukrainian prisoners of war.
“We have always supported the idea of not attacking energy infrastructure with any kind of weapons,” Zelensky said during a press conference in Helsinki. However, he argued that Putin’s conditions for peace indicate that Russia is not “ready” to fully end the war.
Zelensky also stated that Ukrainian troops would remain in the Russian border region of Kursk “as long as necessary.”
Resumption of Attacks
Despite the announcements from Washington and Moscow, reports confirmed continued attacks by both Russian and Ukrainian forces.
According to Kyiv authorities, Russian drones struck at least eleven regions, targeting railway networks and civilian infrastructure. “Unfortunately, civilian infrastructure has been specifically attacked,” a Ukrainian official stated, mentioning that a hospital in Sumy was hit.
Meanwhile, Russian authorities reported that a Ukrainian drone strike destroyed an oil depot in the Krasnodar region.
“The affected area covers 20 square meters. A pipeline between storage tanks has been damaged,” stated the emergency operations center in Krasnodar. Over 100 personnel were deployed to extinguish the fire, and operations at the facility were suspended.
Moscow-Washington Relations
During their discussion, Trump and Putin agreed that relations between the U.S. and Russia should “improve” and that the Middle East presented “an opportunity for cooperation to prevent future conflicts,” according to the White House.
The two leaders also discussed arms control and the importance of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. “They shared the view that Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel,” the statement added.
According to BBC correspondent Tom Bateman, the White House’s statement suggests that Trump has softened his initial demand for an immediate ceasefire across all fronts.
“Instead, Putin has agreed to halt long-range missile attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. This was, in fact, a Ukrainian proposal that the Americans initially avoided discussing last week,” Bateman noted.
It remains unclear whether future negotiations will be solely between the U.S. and Russia or if they will include Ukraine.
Impact of Energy Attacks
Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have been relentless since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. These strikes have caused widespread blackouts, particularly during the harsh winter months.
“If Putin truly stops the attacks on Ukraine’s power grid as he claims, it will bring some relief to civilians,” noted BBC’s Eastern Europe correspondent Sarah Rainsford.
However, in Ukraine, electricity shortages have become a way of life, with many relying on generators for essential services. “Many people have had to adapt to living without reliable power,” Rainsford added.
Ceasefire Negotiations
Last week, representatives from Ukraine and the U.S. met in Saudi Arabia to discuss a possible peace agreement, initially proposing a 30-day ceasefire.
The Ukrainian government signaled its willingness to “stop shooting and start talking,” according to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, provided Russia supported the ceasefire.
Following this announcement, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff took the proposal to Moscow, where he met with Putin and other Russian officials. However, Russia has yet to accept the plan, with Putin insisting on “many details yet to be finalized.”
Putin indicated that Russia was willing to pause fighting but emphasized that the agreement should lead to “a lasting peace that addresses the root causes of the crisis.”
Zelensky, however, criticized Moscow’s conditions, stating that they were “deliberately designed to complicate and prolong the process.”
Analysis: Gains and Losses for Both Sides
Frank Gardner, BBC’s security correspondent, provided an analysis from Germany:
“A ‘frank’ exchange in a diplomatic call usually signals deep disagreements. Trump may be privately frustrated that he could not secure a broader 30-day ceasefire across land, sea, and air. But the temporary pause in attacks on energy infrastructure will provide relief to Ukrainian civilians who are weary of war.”
“From a military standpoint, this may not favor Ukraine. While its ground forces have faced setbacks in Kursk and other frontline regions, its long-range drone strikes have successfully hit Russian oil facilities, impacting Moscow’s military logistics. Now, Ukraine must pause those attacks.”
Meanwhile, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has described Putin as “the greatest threat to European security.” Speaking before the Trump-Putin call, he argued that Putin’s actions demonstrate no genuine interest in peace.
The focus will now shift to the Middle East, where the next round of peace negotiations to end the Ukraine war is set to take place soon.