Trump, Putin Agreed to Begin Talks on ‘Energy & Infrastructure’ Ceasefire/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin held a lengthy phone call Tuesday as the U.S. seeks Russian approval of a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine. Trump and Putin agreed during their call on Tuesday to seek a limited ceasefire against energy and infrastructure targets in the Russia-Ukraine war, according to the White House. The White House described it as the first step in a “movement to peace” it hopes will eventually include a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea and a full and lasting end to the fighting.
Trump and Putin Discuss Ukraine Ceasefire in Lengthy Call: Quick Looks
- Trump and Putin spoke for over an hour as the U.S. seeks Russian approval of a 30-day ceasefire plan.
- Putin reportedly agrees “in principle” but demands assurances that Ukraine won’t rearm during the pause.
- Zelenskyy remains skeptical, calling out Russia’s continued attacks on Ukrainian cities.
- The plan includes territorial negotiations, with Trump mentioning land and power plant control.
- The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant—Europe’s largest—is central to talks, given its strategic value.
- Critics warn the ceasefire could weaken Ukraine’s bargaining power and further embolden Putin.
Trump, Putin Agreed to Begin Talks on ‘Energy & Infrastructure’ Ceasefire
U.S. Pushes for Russian Approval of Ceasefire
President Donald Trump agreed in a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin that the war in Ukraine “needs to end with a lasting peace,” according to a description of the conversation from the White House. The two leaders also agreed to begin immediate talks on an “energy and infrastructure” ceasefire, the readout said.
The readout did not suggest that Putin had agreed to the 30-day ceasefire that Trump has endorsed and which has received backing from Ukraine.
Instead, the White House said Putin and Trump “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.”
The readout said negotiations on those points would begin immediately in the Middle East.
“The two leaders agreed that a future with an improved bilateral relationship between the United States and Russia has huge upside. This includes enormous economic deals and geopolitical stability when peace has been achieved,” the readout said.
The White House said negotiations would “begin immediately” on those steps. It was not immediately clear whether Ukraine is on board with the phased ceasefire plan.
Putin also called on Trump to end foreign military and intelligence assistance to Ukraine as the U.S. looks to bring an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to the Kremlin.
Trump and Putin held a lengthy phone call Tuesday as the White House pushes for Moscow to accept a U.S.-backed 30-day ceasefire proposal aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
While no immediate details were released from the White House or Kremlin, both sides confirmed the conversation had concluded after more than an hour.
Trump previously stated the call would focus on land control and power plants, hinting at potential territorial compromises between Ukraine and Russia.
Ceasefire Proposal Moves Forward—With Conditions
Last week, Ukrainian officials agreed to the American-backed ceasefire framework during talks in Saudi Arabia, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. However, Putin has demanded that Ukraine:
- Renounce its NATO ambitions,
- Reduce its military size, and
- Ensure protections for Russian language and culture.
Putin also wants guarantees that Ukraine won’t use the ceasefire to rearm—a concern echoed by Russian state media.
“We are on the 10th yard line of peace,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. “We’ve never been closer to a deal.”
Despite the optimism, critics argue the U.S. is offering too many concessions to Moscow while applying pressure on Kyiv.
Zelenskyy and Critics Warn of a Weakening Position
While the U.S. sees the ceasefire as a step toward peace, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains skeptical.
“It is Putin who continues to drag out this war,” Zelenskyy said in a Monday address.
His concerns were reinforced after Trump temporarily cut off U.S. military intelligence-sharing with Ukraine following a tense Feb. 28 White House meeting. The aid was only restored after Ukraine agreed to the ceasefire framework.
Bradley Bowman, a senior analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, warned that the deal appears to favor Russia:
“The U.S. seems to be offering Ukraine sticks while giving Putin carrots,” Bowman said.
Control of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant at Center of Talks
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which produced a quarter of Ukraine’s electricity before the war, has been a key topic in U.S.-Russia negotiations.
The facility, seized by Russian forces in 2022, has been a flashpoint of concern for international observers, including the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
While Trump has hinted at negotiations over the plant, the White House has not clarified whether Ukraine will maintain control or if it will be handed over as part of a broader agreement.
Could a Ceasefire Backfire?
While a temporary truce could pause the bloodshed, some analysts fear it could work in Russia’s favor, allowing Moscow to:
- Regroup and resupply its forces,
- Solidify control over occupied territories, and
- Pressure Ukraine into further concessions.
Meanwhile, the U.S. risks alienating European allies, who have pushed for harsher penalties on Putin, rather than a negotiated compromise.
What’s Next?
With the Trump-Putin call concluded, all eyes are now on Moscow’s response. If Putin formally agrees, the ceasefire could take effect within days.
But if negotiations stall, Zelenskyy’s worst fears could be realized—with Ukraine’s bargaining position further weakened.
For now, the war remains in limbo, while Trump’s efforts to broker a deal continue.
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