In a significant diplomatic exchange, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin engaged in a lengthy phone call on Tuesday to discuss a phased ceasefire in Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Both the White House and the Kremlin released official statements outlining the key conditions and next steps toward a potential resolution.
A Step Toward Peace Talks
The White House described the conversation as a critical “first step” in an effort to establish peace, with an initial focus on limiting attacks on energy and infrastructure sites. The broader goal, according to U.S. officials, is to advance negotiations toward a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea and eventually reach a full cessation of hostilities.
U.S. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized in a post on X that discussions on the ceasefire terms would “begin immediately.” However, it remains unclear whether Ukraine has agreed to the phased approach outlined by Trump and Putin.
Russia’s Key Demands
According to the Kremlin’s statement, Putin urged Trump to put an end to U.S. military and intelligence support for Ukraine. Moscow has maintained that foreign military assistance is a primary factor fueling the prolonged conflict. The Russian government outlined several conditions, with the most notable demand being the “complete cessation” of Western military aid, citing it as necessary to prevent further escalation.
Talks on Land and Energy Infrastructure
A senior White House official revealed that during Monday’s preparatory discussions, Trump had indicated that both nations were exploring agreements on “land, power plants, and the division of certain assets.” One of the focal points of these talks is the status of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which Russian forces seized in the early stages of the war. The plant remains a contentious issue, as international watchdogs have repeatedly raised concerns over the risks posed by military activity around Europe’s largest nuclear facility.
Special U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that the Zaporizhzhia plant had been brought up in preliminary discussions with Ukrainian officials, and the issue was further addressed in Tuesday’s call between Trump and Putin.
Zelenskyy’s Response
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his nightly address, expressed skepticism about Putin’s commitment to a ceasefire, accusing him of deliberately prolonging the war. “This proposal could have been implemented long ago. Every day of war means more lives lost,” he stated.
While this conversation marks an initial diplomatic step, several critical questions remain unanswered. Whether Ukraine will accept the proposed conditions and how the international community will respond to the negotiations are still uncertain. Analysts suggest that the coming days will be crucial in determining whether these discussions pave the way for a genuine resolution or merely prolong ongoing tensions.