A phone call between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on a potential ceasefire in Ukraine began at 14:00 GMT on Tuesday. According to the White House, the conversation was “going well” and had lasted nearly an hour.
Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff, confirmed on X that the call was still ongoing. “The call is going well and still in progress,” he wrote.
After more than two hours of discussion, some progress was made toward a ceasefire. However, as expected, Russia presented strict demands for a full truce.
Russia’s Key Conditions for a Ceasefire
According to Bloomberg, Putin insisted that all arms shipments to Ukraine must stop before any full ceasefire agreement could take effect. The Kremlin stated that Russia’s priorities include halting forced mobilization in Ukraine and preventing the rearmament of Ukrainian forces. Additionally, Moscow emphasized that stopping foreign military aid and intelligence support to Kyiv was crucial to preventing further escalation.
European leaders remain wary of these conditions. As my colleague Pjotr Sauer reported earlier, the UK and the European Union are accelerating efforts to deliver more military aid to Kyiv. Many fear that agreeing to Putin’s demands would leave Ukraine vulnerable while allowing Russia time to rearm for future attacks.
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Limited Agreement on Energy Infrastructure
Both Trump and Putin agreed to pause attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure for 30 days. However, a broader ceasefire covering land and sea operations remains uncertain. The agreement, which focuses on energy and further talks on maritime hostilities, closely resembles a proposal first introduced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and later supported by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Despite this temporary agreement, major differences persist. The Kremlin outlined several conditions that still require discussion, including monitoring ceasefire compliance and addressing the “root causes” of the crisis.
Prisoner Exchange and Other Discussions
During the call, Putin informed Trump of a planned prisoner exchange. Russia and Ukraine will swap 175 prisoners of war, with an additional 23 seriously wounded Ukrainian servicemen set for release as a “gesture of goodwill.”
The two leaders also discussed the Middle East, the Red Sea, and broader efforts to improve U.S.-Russia relations. The White House emphasized that better relations could lead to “enormous economic deals and geopolitical stability.”
Next Steps
Negotiations on a maritime ceasefire will begin immediately in the Middle East. However, it remains unclear whether further agreements will be reached. While both sides acknowledge the need for peace, deep divisions persist.
The Kremlin and the White House have now confirmed that the call has ended. As more details emerge, we will continue to provide updates.
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