Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin discuss Ukraine ceasefire amid tense peace negotiations.
Credit : Shutterstock, Rokas Tenys
After a much-awaited phone call, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump have agreed to temporarily pause attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
However, the leaders stopped short of achieving a broader ceasefire, highlighting ongoing hurdles in peace negotiations.
Ceasefire on energy infrastructure—but no wider peace agreement yet
Despite weeks of diplomatic effort, Putin turned down the more extensive month-long ceasefire proposal, previously arranged by US officials and Ukraine during talks in Saudi Arabia. The Russian president instead set conditions for a complete ceasefire, demanding an end to foreign military support and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. This demand has already been rejected by Ukraine’s European allies.
Following the call, Trump shared his optimism on social media, describing his conversation with Putin as “very good and productive.” He confirmed they agreed to stop targeting Ukraine’s energy facilities immediately, adding he hoped this would soon lead to a full ceasefire and an end to the conflict.
Ukraine welcomes limited ceasefire but remains cautious
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking from Helsinki shortly after the Putin-Trump call, welcomed the agreement cautiously but asked for clarity. Zelensky later expressed frustration, saying Putin effectively rejected a broader ceasefire while continuing drone attacks, which hit hospitals in Sumy and energy facilities in Slovyansk.
“Unfortunately, we’ve seen further attacks on civilian infrastructure,” Zelensky said in a social media post. “Today’s decision by Putin shows he isn’t ready yet for real peace.”
Just hours later, both sides reported new hostilities, accusing each other of breaking the agreement. Zelensky claimed Russia launched over 40 drones against Ukraine, while Russian authorities blamed Ukraine for drone strikes causing damage at an oil facility in Krasnodar and attempting incursions into Belgorod.
Mixed reactions as diplomatic efforts continue
Talks aimed at a lasting peace continue this week in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, according to Steve Witkoff, the US envoy to the Middle East. Yet, responses from international allies remain mixed.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the limited ceasefire “an important first step,” speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, but emphasised the urgent need for a complete ceasefire. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer spoke directly to Zelensky, reassuring him of Britain’s unwavering support amid growing scepticism towards Russia’s intentions.
Putin has signalled clearly that he expects major concessions from Ukraine and the West, such as lifting sanctions and acknowledging Russian control of occupied territories. Observers suggest Putin might be strategically using partial ceasefires to buy time, adding challenging conditions to negotiations.
With tensions still high, all eyes will be on the next round of talks in Saudi Arabia, as leaders strive to turn fragile agreements into lasting peace.
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