Russia Putin agrees to pause attacks on energy facilities
Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to a US proposal to suspend all attacks on energy infrastructure in Ukraine for 30 days if Kiev does the same. This was announced by the Kremlin following a telephone conversation between Putin and US President Donald Trump. However, according to statements from both governments, Trump and Putin were unable to agree on a general ceasefire in the Ukraine war during their conversation. According to the White House, negotiations on this are to begin immediately in the Middle East.
18.03.2025, 19:46
SDA
According to the White House, Trump and Putin agreed that "the path to peace" must begin with energy infrastructure. Negotiations are also planned on a ceasefire in the Black Sea, which should ultimately lead to a complete cessation of hostilities.
According to the Kremlin, Putin ordered his military to halt the attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities. However, there was no indication as to when this would apply. There was no reaction from Ukraine. The Kremlin leader announced that Russia and Ukraine would each exchange 175 prisoners of war on Wednesday. Moscow would also release 23 seriously injured Ukrainian soldiers back home as a gesture of goodwill. The White House has not yet commented on this aspect.
Trump wants a quick end to the war
The US President has proclaimed the goal of ending the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. A few days ago, high-ranking representatives of the Trump administration met with representatives from Kiev in Saudi Arabia.
There, Ukraine agreed to the US proposal of an initial 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia - if Moscow also committed to this. Putin had initially stated that Russia was prepared in principle to end the fighting - as proposed by the USA. However, he emphasized that conditions would first have to be met.
Prior to the phone call, Trump had sent his special envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow, where he spent several hours talking to the Kremlin leader - including about the proposal for a ceasefire. However, Witkoff evaded a question about Putin's demands - presumably including the surrender of the Ukrainian armed forces in the Russian region of Kursk, international recognition of the territories annexed by Russia, a stop to Western military aid and a ban on foreign peacekeeping troops in Ukraine - after his visit to Moscow. He did not disclose any substantive details.
Ukraine on the defensive
Putin ordered the war against the neighboring country more than three years ago in order to force Ukraine back into Russia's sphere of influence. Ukraine is defending itself against the invasion with Western help, but has recently found itself on the defensive on several fronts.
Putin countered the demand for a general ceasefire with his familiar arguments: It was unclear how such a ceasefire would be monitored and secured. It was also essential that the West stopped supplying weapons and intelligence to Kiev. The Kremlin also stated that the safety of shipping on the Black Sea should also be guaranteed. Shortly after the start of the war, both sides had already agreed to establish a corridor to secure grain deliveries from Ukraine. This agreement was later not extended by Russia.
Second meeting since Trump took office
The conversation between Trump and Putin was the second between them since the American returned to the White House on January 20. The two last spoke on the phone on February 12.
Since taking office, Trump has resumed intensive contact with Russia after a long period of radio silence between Washington and Moscow under Trump's predecessor Joe Biden.
Biden had attempted to isolate the Russians internationally after their invasion of Ukraine three years ago and bring them to their knees with far-reaching sanctions and punitive measures in order to end the war. Trump, on the other hand, had already sought proximity to Putin during his first term of office (2017 to 2021).
