Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his support for an ‘energy and infrastructure ceasefire’ with Russia but emphasized the need to hear more from President Donald Trump before proceeding.
He stated, ‘I count on having a conversation with President Trump. We will understand the details. We have always supported the ceasefire position and not to use any weapons against the energy infrastructure,’ during an online briefing with reporters.
But he said he’d hold off on a final answer until after he spoke with Trump.
‘After we get the details from the US president, from the US side, we will give our answer,’ he said.
Following a fallout at the end of February in the Oval Office, Zelensky and Trump have not communicated. At that time, a heated argument ensued between the two leaders regarding the conflict with Russia, during which Trump criticized Zelensky for not displaying sufficient gratitude towards the United States.
Other world leaders expressed cautious optimism about the deal, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: ‘We welcome the progress President Trump has made towards a ceasefire and in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
‘This process must lead to a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.
‘We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes to ensure Russia can never launch an illegal invasion again.’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he wants to talk to President Trump about the partial ceasefire deal
Zelensky was not part of Trump’s conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. The two leaders took the first steps toward ending the war with a partial ceasefire agreement that will be in effect for 30 days.
Talks for a permanent peace will ‘begin immediately’ in the Middle East although Putin told Trump that he has several conditions he wants met in order for the fighting to end.
‘The leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace. These negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East,’ the White House said in its readout of the call.
The White House statement also contained a key detail hinting at a realignment of the Middle East: a statement of support for Israel over Iran.
‘The two leaders shared the view that Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel,’ the readout said.
It hinted at the potential for a future shift in the world order in which Moscow becomes less forthright in its support of Tehran, which has been a longtime ally.
‘The leaders spoke broadly about the Middle East as a region of potential cooperation to prevent future conflicts,’ the White House said. The U.S. has hosted separate talks with Ukraine and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia.
Trump has repeatedly threatened Iran for its support of the Houthis and demanded it end its nuclear program. If he can foster a closer relationship between Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he could see an end to the Russia-Iran alliance, which would benefit the United States.
The White House also hinted at a shakeup of American foreign relations that would include a closer relationship between Washington and Moscow.
Both leaders ‘stressed the need for improved bilateral relations between the United States and Russia.’
An improved U.S.-Russian relationship ‘has huge upside,’ the administration noted. ‘This includes enormous economic deals and geopolitical stability when peace has been achieved.’
Trump expressed optimism there would a ‘complete ceasefire’ soon.
‘My phone conversation today with President Putin of Russia was a very good and productive one. 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 Truth Social.
‘That process is now in full force and effect, and we will, hopefully, for the sake of Humanity, get the job done!’
President Donald Trump on his call with Vladimir Putin: ‘My phone conversation today with President Putin of Russia was a very good and productive one.’
As part of the ‘energy and infrastructure ceasefire’ agreement, Putin agreed to halt attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure for 30 days. He has been attacking electricity production causing blackouts throughout Ukraine, which has affected everything from heating, water distribution, sewage and public health.
Russia also took control of Ukraine’s nuclear plant. There have been worries the war could spark a nuclear meltdown if the plant is hit. And Moscow has been hitting the country’s gas lines.
Ukraine has been doing its own damage to Russia’s infrastructure.
Kyiv has conducted drone strikes in recent days on Russian fuel facilities as it tries to cripple the Kremlin. Its attacks on Russian refineries, oil depots and industrial sites have been on the rise since January.
The attacks knocked out up to about 10 percent of Russian refining capacity for several weeks in February. Energy is the Kremlin’s biggest export and provides funding for Putin’s war.
Additionally, Putin has conditions for a permanent end to the fighting, saying he wants the United States and its allies to end military and intelligence assistance to Ukraine to halt hostilities, according to the Kremlin readout.
‘It was emphasized that the key condition for preventing the escalation of the conflict and working towards its resolution through political and diplomatic means should be the complete cessation of foreign military aid and the provision of intelligence information to Kyiv,’ Moscow said.
European allies, however, are worried that could result in Moscow rearming itself during a ceasefire, leaving Kyiv short-handed and playing catchup.
However, the White House said peace is the goal.
‘Both leaders agreed this conflict needs to end with a lasting peace,’ the White House said.
‘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.’
Russian President Vladimir Putin gave conditions for a permanent ceasefire
In other news out of Tuesday’s phone call, Putin told Trump that Russia and Ukraine are set to exchange 175 prisoners of war each on Wednesday, and Russia will also hand over to Ukraine 23 badly wounded soldiers.
Their call lasted about two hours, beginning around 10 am ET and concluding at noon. Trump spoke from the Oval Office, where he was joined by Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
As part of it, Trump agreed with Putin’s idea for an ice hockey game between U.S. and Russian players, the Kremlin noted.
‘Donald Trump supported Vladimir Putin’s idea of organizing hockey matches in the United States and Russia between Russian and American players playing in the NHL and KHL,’ Moscow said.
Meanwhile, Zelensky said Europe must be a part of any negotiations on a permanent ceasefire.
‘Europe must be at the negotiating table, and everything that concerns European security must be decided together with Europe,’ he said in a statement.
Zelensky has said repeatedly that Putin cannot be trusted.
Tuesday morning’s call was the first known conversation between Trump and Putin since Ukraine agreed last week to support a U.S.-backed 30-day ceasefire as long as Russia does the same.
Trump went into the call confident he could get a ceasefire deal.
‘We can work a peace agreement, a ceasefire and peace and I think we’ll be able to do it,’ he said on Monday.
A Ukrainian soldier in the Kharkiv region – the war with Russia has been going on three years
Ahead of their conversation, Trump said he planned to discuss land and power plants with Putin.
‘We’ll be talking about land. A lot of land is a lot different than it was before the war, as you know. We’ll be talking about land, we’ll be talking about power plants, that’s a big question,’ he said.
The power plant in question is the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southern Ukraine.
The six-reactor nuclear plant is Europe’s largest. Russia seized control of it early in the war and still has it in their possession.
The plant has not supplied power to Ukraine’s grid since its capture. But its proximity to frontline fighting has raised concerns about the risk of a radiological disaster.
And the Ukrainians want it back.
