Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Tuesday to temporarily halt attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities but refused to commit to a full 30-day ceasefire that former U.S. President Donald Trump had hoped would pave the way for a lasting peace agreement.
Ukraine has signaled support for the limited arrangement, which would require both nations to refrain from striking each other’s energy infrastructure for about a month. Analysts suggest that Putin’s move may be a strategic delay as Russian forces continue advancing in eastern Ukraine.
Following an extended phone call between Trump and Putin, the White House announced that negotiations for a broader peace plan would commence immediately. However, it remains uncertain whether Ukraine will participate in these discussions, which are set to take place in the Middle East and will address a potential maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, a broader truce, and a long-term peace agreement.
According to the Kremlin, Putin ordered Russian forces to halt attacks on Ukrainian energy sites after his conversation with Trump. However, he cautioned that a temporary ceasefire might allow Ukraine to rearm and reinforce its military. He also reiterated his demand that any peace agreement must include the cessation of all military and intelligence support to Ukraine.
Trump later told Fox News that U.S. aid to Ukraine was not discussed during the call.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed his country’s willingness to abide by the 30-day halt on energy facility strikes. However, he noted that Russia had launched over 40 drones on Tuesday night, targeting a hospital in Sumy and other locations, including the Kyiv region.
“Putin has effectively rejected the proposal for a complete ceasefire. The world should, in turn, reject any of Putin’s attempts to prolong the war,” Zelensky stated on Telegram.
Trump, who has had a complicated relationship with Zelensky, spoke favorably about his conversation with Putin.
“We had a great call. It lasted almost two hours,” Trump told Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle.
Despite Trump’s optimism, the outcome fell short of his expectations. While Ukraine had agreed to a full 30-day ceasefire proposed by the U.S., Putin refused to accept it.
“This call underscored Russia’s reluctance to engage in meaningful negotiations to end the war,” said Kristine Berzina, managing director at the German Marshall Fund think tank, calling the limited ceasefire “a very minor step forward.”
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine has fought back with drone and missile strikes deep into Russian territory, targeting energy infrastructure. Moscow claims these attacks amount to terrorism, while Kyiv argues they are necessary to pressure Russia’s economy. Experts say a halt in strikes on energy sites could ultimately benefit Russia.
After the call, Trump posted on social media that he and Putin had agreed to work quickly toward a ceasefire and a long-term peace deal.
“Many elements of a peace agreement were discussed, including the fact that thousands of soldiers are being killed. Both President Putin and President Zelensky want to see this war end,” Trump wrote.
On March 11, Ukraine expressed willingness to accept a full 30-day ceasefire, a move that U.S. officials said could facilitate broader peace talks to end the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II. The war has killed or wounded hundreds of thousands, displaced millions, and devastated entire cities.
Trump has hinted that a permanent settlement could involve Ukraine making territorial concessions, including control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Following the call, Zelensky traveled to Helsinki for an official visit, where he emphasized that Europe must be involved in any Ukrainian peace negotiations.
The Trump-Putin talks occurred as Israel resumed its strikes on Hamas in Gaza, further jeopardizing an already fragile truce and highlighting the challenges of securing lasting ceasefires in prolonged conflicts.
The two leaders also discussed preventing future crises in the Middle East, agreeing that “Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel,” according to the White House.
U.S. Policy Shift Raises Concerns Among Allies
Meanwhile, Russian troops are advancing in eastern Ukraine and pushing Ukrainian forces back near Russia’s Kursk region.
Trump’s pursuit of a narrower ceasefire underscores his effort to improve relations with Russia. However, Susan Colbourn, an expert on European security at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy, noted that Putin appears to be stalling.
“It’s striking how few concessions Trump has demanded from Russia, despite their invasion of a neighboring country,” Colbourn observed.
Trump’s overtures to Putin have raised alarms among U.S. allies.
Ukraine and its Western supporters view Russia’s invasion as an imperialist land grab, with Zelensky insisting that Ukraine’s sovereignty is non-negotiable and that Russia must withdraw from occupied territories.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned on Tuesday that Russia has significantly expanded its military-industrial capacity in preparation for “future confrontation with European democracies.”
At a press conference in Berlin with French President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed the limited ceasefire as a step forward but reiterated that a comprehensive ceasefire is necessary. He also emphasized that Ukraine must be included in any final peace agreement.
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and later seized parts of four eastern Ukrainian regions following its 2022 invasion. Today, Moscow controls roughly 20% of Ukraine’s territory.
Putin claims the war was necessary to counter NATO’s eastward expansion, which he argues threatened Russia’s security. He has demanded that Ukraine abandon its NATO ambitions.
Putin has also insisted that Russia must retain control of occupied Ukrainian territory, that Western sanctions should be lifted, and that Ukraine must hold a presidential election—despite Zelensky remaining in office under martial law due to the war.
