WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a two-hour phone call on Tuesday as the United States continues to work on a ceasefire deal between Russia and Ukraine.
Putin agreed to an “immediate” ceasefire on all energy and infrastructure in Ukraine. A White House readout of the call gave Trump credit for a stop on energy infrastructure attacks — but did not include a commitment to the 30-day truce accepted by Ukraine.
Trump on Truth Social said he and Putin agreed to the ceasefire “with an understanding that we will be working quickly to have a Complete Ceasefire and, ultimately, an END to this very horrible War between Russia and Ukraine.”
“Both leaders agreed this conflict needs to end with a lasting peace,” the White House said of the Trump-Putin call. “They also stressed the need for improved bilateral relations between the United States and Russia. The blood and treasure that both Ukraine and Russia have been spending in this war would be better spent on the needs of their people.”
The Kremlin told the Russian state outlet TASS that Putin has agreed to pause strikes on energy infrastructure for 30 days. The Kremlin also said that the key condition to prevent an escalation in its war in Ukraine would be the suspension of foreign military aid to the Ukrainian government.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a news conference following Tuesday’s developments, said he had “skepticism” of the deal.
“We will support any proposals that lead to a sustainable, just peace. But for this we must understand what is at stake,” he said, adding that efforts to “negotiate without Ukraine, in my view, will not be productive.”
“We will give support, but in order to support something we need to understand what specifically it is. If President Trump can find time — he is a busy man — if he has time he can phone at any time, we are ready to pick up. We are ready to discuss the next steps with him,” he added.
Zelenskyy has warned that he doesn’t trust Putin to stick to a ceasefire because Russia hasn’t held up to its previous agreements with Ukraine.
