Trumps-Putin phone call: A limited truce in Ukraine and an agreement to protect energy facilities

The US president, Donald Trump agreed with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, on Tuesday to a limited truce limited to energy facilities, but their highly anticipated phone call ended without a major breakthrough that would allow for a real ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

The White House and the Kremlin each separately released the key highlights of the phone call, which began at 3:00 PM GMT, between the US President and his Russian counterpart.

The two presidents agreed to begin negotiations immediately in the Middle East regarding a gradual de-escalation in the war that erupted in February 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to the White House.

Moscow announced its agreement to halt strikes on energy facilities in Ukraine for 30 days, describing the conversation between the two presidents as detailed and frank.

The Kremlin stated that Vladimir Putin is ready to work with his American partners on a thorough review of possible paths to a comprehensive, stable, and lasting settlement.

He also agreed to exchange 175 prisoners of war with Ukraine on Wednesday.

Beyond that, the Russian president, who has yet to explicitly accept the thirty-day ceasefire plan agreed to by the Ukrainians under pressure from Trump, has set his own conditions, including an end to Ukraine’s rearmament, according to the Kremlin.

The Kremlin added that Putin asked Donald Trump to stop Western aid to Kyiv.

In addition to halting attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector, the White House discussed technical negotiations on a naval ceasefire in the Black Sea, a comprehensive ceasefire, and a lasting peace.

In its statement, the US administration emphasized the enormous benefits of establishing a better bilateral relationship between the United States and Russia, leading to potential massive economic agreements.

Since returning to the White House on January 20, Donald Trump has taken the initiative to draw closer to Russia, with which his predecessor, Joe Biden, severed ties and focused on assisting Ukraine.

The minutes of the call released by Washington and Moscow did not include any reference to the possibility of re-dividing the territory, while the US president had expressed his willingness to discuss a sharing between Ukraine and Russia, raising concerns in Kyiv.

Later, the US president wrote on his Truth Social network that it was agreed that we will work quickly to achieve a comprehensive ceasefire and ultimately end this very horrific war between Russia and Ukraine.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sypiga called on Moscow on Tuesday to accept a truce “unconditionally”.

Kyiv, like Western capitals, fears that Donald Trump, who treats diplomatic negotiations as a commercial transaction, will be too lenient with Russia, which Europe views as a threat to the continent.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to visit Helsinki on Wednesday for discussions on Finland’s support for Ukraine and measures to end Russian aggression, according to the Finnish presidency statement.

Under pressure from Washington, Ukraine accepted a proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.

The Russian president, whose forces are advancing on the ground, has been careful not to reject this idea, but has publicly expressed reservations.

The US President has reiterated the Russian narrative based on counterfactuals on several issues.

He stressed that preserving Ukraine’s territorial integrity, as well as its accession to NATO, is impossible.

In return, he imposed maximum pressure on Ukraine, which was clearly evident in the verbal altercation between him and Zelensky in the White House.

He suspended military aid and intelligence to Kyiv, and only restored them after Ukraine accepted his truce proposal.

For its part, Russia has not made any significant concessions, insisting on its demand to annex five Ukrainian regions, including Crimea.

Following the call between the Russian and US presidents, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed their intention to continue military assistance to Kyiv.

“We both agree that Ukraine can count on us, that Ukraine can count on Europe, and that we won’t let Kyiv down,” Scholz said.

Scholz made his remarks alongside the French president, who is on a visit to Germany.

“We’ll continue to support the Ukrainian army in its war of resistance against Russian aggression,” Macron said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed support for a truce that includes energy facilities but demanded more details from Washington.

Zelensky believed that Putin’s conditions showed he was unwilling to end the war and were intended to weaken Ukraine.

He confirmed that his army continues to fight in the Russian Kursk region.

On the ground, fighting continued, as shortly after the call between the Russian and US presidents, explosions and sirens were heard in the capital, Kyiv.

Russia, for its part, announced that it had repelled several Ukrainian ground advance attempts in the Belgorod region of Russia, bordering Ukraine.