Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held a phone call to discuss the ongoing situation in Ukraine. While the conversation yielded a tentative agreement to pause attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, a comprehensive month-long ceasefire remained elusive.
According to reports, Putin declined to sign onto the extensive ceasefire agreement recently brokered by Trump’s team with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia. Instead, Putin emphasized that a comprehensive truce could only be achieved if foreign military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine were terminated. This condition has been previously rejected by Ukraine’s European allies. US talks on Ukraine are set to continue on Sunday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as announced by US Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff. Russia has recently regained control of territory in its Kursk region, which had been occupied by Ukrainian forces six months prior.
When US delegates met with Ukrainian counterparts in Jeddah last Tuesday, they successfully convinced Kyiv to agree to a proposal for an “immediate” 30-day ceasefire across land, air, and sea. However, the latest developments suggest a more cautious approach.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who arrived in Helsinki, Finland, for an official visit shortly after the Trump-Putin call, expressed reservations about the limited ceasefire agreement. Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is open to the idea of a truce covering energy infrastructure but awaits further details.Later, Zelenskyy accused Putin of rejecting a ceasefire following a barrage of Russian drone attacks targeting Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, including a hospital in Sumy and power supplies in Slovyansk.
Trump took to social media to describe his call with Putin as “very good and productive,” highlighting discussions on “many elements of a Contract for Peace.” Trump asserted that the parties agreed to an immediate ceasefire on energy and infrastructure, with the understanding that a complete ceasefire and an eventual end to the conflict would be pursued.
Approximately 80% of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been destroyed by Russian bombardments, according to Zelenskyy’s statement last September. In response, Ukraine has conducted drone and missile strikes on Russian oil and gas facilities. The situation remains volatile, with both Russia and Ukraine accusing each other of launching air attacks in the aftermath of the Trump-Putin call. Zelenskyy reported that Russia launched over 40 drones against Ukraine in the hours following the call. In the southern Russian region of Krasnodar, officials reported a Ukrainian drone attack sparking a small fire at an oil depot. The governor of Belgorod, a Russian region bordering Ukraine, described the situation as “difficult,” with Moscow claiming Ukrainian forces attempted a ground assault but were repelled.
Following last week’s talks in Jeddah, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that “the ball” was in Russia’s court, given Ukraine’s acceptance of Washington’s proposal for a full ceasefire. However, the White House statement on the Trump-Putin call made no reference to this agreement, instead emphasizing the parties’ agreement to initiate a ceasefire on energy and infrastructure. The Kremlin’s statement highlighted “significant issues” surrounding the enforcement of any agreement with Kyiv, reiterating the cessation of foreign support and intelligence for Ukraine as a “key condition” for Russia. Trump and Putin agreed to immediate technical-level talks towards a longer-term settlement, with the Kremlin emphasizing the need for a “complex, stable, and long-term” agreement. However, it remains unclear whether this will involve direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
The Kremlin also noted Trump’s support for Putin’s proposal to hold ice hockey matches between professional US and Russian players. Russia was previously excluded from international ice hockey events following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Kyiv is likely to perceive the outcome of Tuesday’s call as Putin playing for time, imposing crippling conditions on any potential settlement. Putin has consistently maintained that Russia should retain control of Ukrainian territory seized during the conflict and has called for the easing of Western sanctions as part of any eventual peace agreement.
