Putin agrees to limited Ukraine ceasefire after lengthy call with Trump
Moscow’s summary said Putin agreed to the 30-day ceasefire on energy infrastructure and had already given Russian troops the corresponding order.
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He also agreed to spare the lives of any Ukrainian soldiers in the Kursk region and extend them decent treatment in the event of their surrender, the readout said.
Putin said the two sides would each exchange 175 prisoners on March 19, and Russia would add another 23 injured Ukrainian soldiers being treated in Russian hospitals.
In a post on his TruthSocial website, Trump characterised the call with Putin as “very good and productive”. Noting the ceasefire on energy facilities, he stressed there was “an understanding that we will be working quickly to have a Complete Ceasefire and, ultimately, an END to this very horrible War”.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin called it “a detailed and frank exchange of views” and said Putin was grateful for Trump’s genuine desire to end the conflict.
Zelensky did not immediately comment publicly on the readouts of the call, but the day before, he said it was clear Putin wanted to drag out the war.
“For a week now, Putin has been unable to squeeze out ‘yes’ to the ceasefire proposal. He’s saying whatever he wants, but not what the whole world wants to hear,” Zelensky said on X.
“The unconditional ceasefire proposal is essentially about saving lives, allowing diplomats to work on ensuring security and a lasting peace – the proposal that Russia is ignoring. Pressure is needed to finally make Moscow accept that their war must be brought to an end.”
Since Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 – a major escalation of a conflict that began with Putin’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 – the Russian leader has been frozen out of diplomatic relations in the western world.
But in Tuesday’s call, both leaders said they wanted to begin improving and normalising relations between the US and Russia, working together economically and co-operating strategically to solve problems in the Middle East.
The White House readout referred to “enormous economic deals” that could come from US-Russia co-operation.
Trump and Putin “discussed the need to stop proliferation of strategic weapons and will engage with others to ensure the broadest possible application. The two leaders shared the view that Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel”.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin said the two countries shared a “special responsibility … for ensuring security and stability in the world”. In particular, it praised the Trump administration’s decision to side with Russia at a recent United Nations vote on the Ukraine conflict.
According to the Kremlin’s summary, Trump also supported Putin’s suggestion National Hockey League and Kontinental Hockey League players should compete against each other in matches held in the US and Russia.
