• Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to a 30-day limited ceasefire targeting energy infrastructure during a two-and-a-half-hour phone call. This marks a rare diplomatic engagement between the two nations amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
• While both leaders described the call as positive, their visions for peace differ significantly. Putin demanded an end to Western military aid to Ukraine, demilitarization and recognition of Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territories, while Trump proposed a broader ceasefire and emphasized progress toward ending the war.
• Putin announced an upcoming prisoner swap involving 175 prisoners of war from each side and the return of 23 critically wounded Ukrainian servicemen. This was seen as a goodwill gesture but did not address the core issues of the conflict.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cautiously welcomed the partial ceasefire but sought more details before full endorsement. European leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron, called the agreement a “good start” but stressed that any deal must include Ukraine and protect its sovereignty.
• The path to a permanent resolution remains uncertain due to deep mistrust, Putin’s demands and skepticism from European allies. While the ceasefire on energy infrastructure offers temporary relief, broader peace negotiations face significant hurdles, including disagreements over territorial claims and military aid.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed a potential settlement to the Ukraine conflict, agreeing to a limited ceasefire targeting energy infrastructure during a phone call lasting two and a half hours on Tuesday, March 18.

While both sides described the conversation as positive, significant hurdles remain to achieving a lasting peace, with Putin demanding an end to Western military aid to Ukraine and Trump pushing for a broader 30-day ceasefire.

The call, which included discussions on prisoner swaps, bilateral cooperation and the need for a permanent resolution, marks a rare moment of diplomatic engagement between the two nations amid a war that has raged for over three years. (Related: Trump and Putin poised for ceasefire talks as envoy reports “positive” progress in Ukraine negotiations.)

The most immediate outcome of the call was a mutual agreement to halt strikes on energy infrastructure for 30 days. Trump proposed the idea, and Putin immediately ordered the Russian military to comply. The White House described the move as a first step toward broader peace negotiations, which will include discussions on a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea and a full cessation of hostilities.

However, the Kremlin’s statement revealed that Putin declined to commit to a full month-long ceasefire, citing concerns over Ukraine’s ability to adhere to agreements and the need for a robust monitoring mechanism. Putin also emphasized the “barbaric terrorist crimes” allegedly committed by Ukrainian militants against Russian civilians in the Kursk region, underscoring the deep mistrust between the two sides.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cautiously welcomed the partial ceasefire but stressed that Kyiv would need more details before fully endorsing the plan.

“We are favorable to the idea of both sides halting attacks on each other’s infrastructure,” Zelensky said in a statement. “But we are waiting for details from the American side.”

Prisoner swap and humanitarian gestures

In a rare display of goodwill, Putin informed Trump of an upcoming prisoner swap with Ukraine. The exchange will involve 175 prisoners of war from each side, with Russia also returning 23 critically wounded Ukrainian servicemen.

The move was seen as a confidence-building measure, but it did little to address the broader issues at the heart of the conflict. Putin reiterated his demand for the “complete cessation of foreign military aid and the provision of intelligence information to Kyiv,” framing these conditions as essential to achieving a lasting peace.

While both Trump and Putin expressed a commitment to ending the war, their visions for peace remain starkly different. Putin outlined a series of maximalist demands, including the demilitarization of Ukraine, a ban on Kyiv’s NATO membership and recognition of Russia’s annexation of four Ukrainian regions in 2022. These conditions, if accepted, would effectively undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence.

Trump, for his part, framed the call as a step toward a broader peace agreement. “We agreed to an immediate ceasefire on all energy and infrastructure, with an understanding that we will be working quickly to have a complete ceasefire and, ultimately, an end to this very horrible war,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

However, Trump’s remarks have raised concerns among European allies, who fear that the U.S. may prioritize securing a deal over protecting Ukraine’s interests. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, called the partial ceasefire “a good start” but stressed that “there cannot be an agreement without Ukraine.”

The Putin-Trump call represents a rare moment of diplomatic engagement in a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions. The agreement to halt strikes on energy infrastructure, if upheld, could provide temporary relief to war-weary civilians on both sides.

Head over to WWIII.news for updates on the Ukraine war.

Watch the video below that talks about Ukraine agreeing to Trump’s ceasefire proposal.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

U.S. resumes military aid to Ukraine after Kyiv agrees to 30-day ceasefire, but Russia holds the cards.

Zelensky rejects territorial concessions as Putin weighs ceasefire proposal.

Sources include:

RT.com

TheGuardian.com

Brighteon.com