WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed throughout a lengthy call Tuesday to a direct pause in strikes towards vitality infrastructure within the Ukraine conflict, however the Russian chief stopped in need of backing a broader 30-day pause in combating that the U.S. administration is urgent for.
The White Home described it as step one in a “motion to peace” that it hopes will embody a maritime ceasefire within the Black Sea and ultimately a full and lasting finish to the combating.
Putin through the name reiterated his demand for an finish to international navy and intelligence help to Ukraine, in response to the Kremlin.
And there was no indication that he has backed away from his circumstances for a potential peace deal, that are fiercely opposed by Kyiv. Russia needs Ukraine to tug again its troops from the 4 areas that Moscow has annexed however by no means absolutely captured, surrender any prospect of becoming a member of the NATO navy alliance and sharply reduce its military.
Shortly after the decision ended, air raid alerts sounded in Kyiv, adopted by explosions within the metropolis. Native officers urged folks to hunt shelter.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy advised reporters that Ukraine is open to any proposals that result in a sustainable and simply peace, however careworn the necessity for full transparency in discussions.
On this mixture of file images, President Donald Trump, left, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, middle, are seen on the Elysee Palace, Dec. 7, 2024 in Paris, and President Vladimir Putin, proper, addresses a Expertise Discussion board in Moscow, Russia, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photograph/Aurelien Morissard, left and middle, Pavel Bednyakov, proper)
Zelenskyy stated he was in search of extra particulars on what Putin and Trump agreed on, however rejected Putin’s demand for halting navy help and intelligence sharing to Ukraine, warning that such a transfer would weaken Ukraine.
“We have to perceive what the dialog is about,” Zelenskyy stated. “What are the small print? And hopefully, we will probably be absolutely knowledgeable, and our companions will talk about the whole lot with us.”
He added: “There are two sides on this conflict — Russia and Ukraine. Attempting to barter with out Ukraine, in my opinion, is not going to be productive.”
Ukrainian officers earlier this month proposed a ceasefire masking the Black Sea and long-range missile strikes and the discharge of prisoners.
Trump instantly cheered Tuesday’s improvement as a significant step towards his final purpose of ending the largest land conflict in Europe since World Struggle II.
“We agreed to a direct Ceasefire on all Power and Infrastructure, with an understanding that we’ll be working shortly to have a Full Ceasefire and, finally, an END to this very horrible Struggle between Russia and Ukraine,” Trump stated on social media.
Putin additionally advised Trump that Russia and Ukraine are set to trade 175 prisoners of conflict every on Wednesday, and Russia may even hand over to Ukraine 23 badly wounded troopers, the Kremlin stated.
The restricted pause comes as Trump nonetheless hopes to get Russia to log out on his 30-day ceasefire proposal geared toward ending the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian officers final week agreed to the 30-day ceasefire proposal throughout talks in Saudi Arabia led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. White Home particular envoy Steve Witkoff then met with Putin in Moscow to debate the proposal.
Zelenskyy, nevertheless, stays skeptical that Putin is prepared for peace as Russian forces proceed to pound Ukraine.
“This isn’t a recreation the place solely Putin dictates the foundations,” Zelenskyy stated, making clear he stays uncertain that Putin was severe about wanting peace.
The Trump-Putin engagement is simply the newest flip in dramatically shifting U.S.-Russia relations as Trump made shortly ending the battle a high precedence — even on the expense of straining ties with longtime American allies who need Putin to pay a worth for the invasion.
Trump has at moments boasted of his relationship with Putin and blamed Ukraine for Russia’s unprovoked invasion, all whereas accusing Zelenskyy of unnecessarily prolonging the largest land conflict in Europe since World Struggle II.
Trump has stated Washington and Moscow have already begun discussing “dividing up sure property” between Ukraine and Russia as a part of a deal to finish the battle.
He stated earlier than the decision that management of land and energy vegetation could be a part of the dialog, which got here on the anniversary of Russia annexing Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula 11 years in the past. That daring land seize by Russia set the stage for Russia to invade its neighbor in 2022.
However neither the White Home nor Kremlin made any point out of land or energy vegetation of their post-call statements.
Witkoff on Sunday steered that U.S. and Russian officers have mentioned the destiny of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant — Europe’s largest — in southern Ukraine. Russian troops seized the plant early within the conflict and it has been caught within the crossfire, fueling fears of a possible nuclear disaster.
The plant is a major asset, producing nearly a quarter of Ukraine’s electricity within the 12 months earlier than the conflict.
After a disastrous Feb. 28 White House meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump briefly reduce off some navy intelligence-sharing and help to Ukraine. It was restored after the Ukrainians final week signed off on the Trump administration’s 30-day ceasefire proposal.
In his dealings with Zelenskyy and Putin, Trump has steadily targeted on who has the leverage. Putin has “the playing cards” and Zelenskyy doesn’t, Trump has stated repeatedly.
Trump, who has lengthy proven admiration for Putin, has additionally made clear he’d prefer to see the U.S.-Russia relationship return to a extra regular footing.
The president throughout his current contentious assembly with Zelenskyy grumbled that “Putin went via a hell of lots with me,” a reference to the federal investigation into Russian interference within the 2016 presidential election by which he beat Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Trump on Tuesday once more underscored his view that Ukraine will not be in a powerful negotiating place. He stated Russian forces have surrounded Ukrainian troops in Russia’s Kursk area — amplifying an assertion made by Russian officers that’s been disputed by Zelenskyy.
“They’re properly encircled, and that’s not good,” stated Trump, in response to excerpts of an interview on Fox Information Channel’s “Ingraham Angle.” “And we wish to get it over with.”
Ukraine’s military stunned Russia in August last year by attacking throughout the border and taking management of an estimated 1,300 sq. kilometers (500 sq. miles) of land. However Ukraine’s forces are actually in retreat and it has all however misplaced a worthwhile bargaining chip, as momentum builds for a ceasefire with Russia.
The White Home stated Trump and Putin additionally mentioned the scenario within the Center East and agreed “Iran ought to by no means be able to destroy Israel.”
U.S. officers have beforehand stated that Iran has offered Russia with short-range ballistic missiles and assault drones for the conflict in Ukraine. The U.S. has additionally stated that Iran has assisted Russia with constructing a drone-manufacturing manufacturing unit.
The Kremlin stated that Trump additionally expressed help for an thought floated by Putin to arrange hockey matches in america and Russia between Russian and American gamers from the Nationwide Hockey League, which has U.S. and Canadian groups, and the Kontinental Hockey League, which incorporates groups from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and China.
___
Isachenkov reported from Moscow. AP author Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv contributed reporting.
