After Trump's call, Putin agrees to 30-day halt on striking Ukraine's infra

Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Tuesday (March 18) to a proposal by US President Donald Trump for Russia and Ukraine to stop hitting each other's energy infrastructure for 30 days and gave a corresponding order to the Russian military, the Kremlin said.

The development was announced shortly after Trump and Putin engaged in a phone conversation, with Washington aiming to persuade Moscow to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine and work toward a permanent resolution of the three-year-long conflict. The White House stated that negotiations aimed at advancing a broader peace plan would commence "immediately" following the agreement on the limited ceasefire.

The call, which began at 10 am ET (7.30 pm IST), went on for more than two hours. Following the call, the Kremlin announced that Ukraine and Russia will exchange 175 prisoners of war each, according to TASS. The Kremlin has stated that Putin and Trump have agreed to remain in contact, the news agency added.

However, the Kremlin said that for any permanent peace deal, foreign military aid and intelligence support to Ukraine must cease entirely. Russian President Vladimir Putin has made it clear that an end to such assistance is a fundamental condition for lasting peace.

Meanwhile, discussions on a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, along with other potential areas of concern, will begin immediately in the Middle East, the White House confirmed.

The call, which began at 10 am ET (7.30 pm IST), went on for more than two hours. Following the call, the Kremlin announced that Ukraine and Russia will exchange 175 prisoners of war each, according to TASS. The Kremlin has stated that Putin and Trump have agreed to remain in contact, the news agency added.

However, the Kremlin said that for any permanent peace deal, foreign military aid and intelligence support to Ukraine must cease entirely. Russian President Vladimir Putin has made it clear that an end to such assistance is a fundamental condition for lasting peace.

Meanwhile, discussions on a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, along with other potential areas of concern, will begin immediately in the Middle East, the White House confirmed.

"Many elements of a Final Agreement have been agreed to, but much remains," Trump posted on social media on Monday. He stressed the urgency of ending the war, stating, "Each week brings 2,500 soldier deaths, from both sides, and it must end NOW."

The Kremlin had earlier confirmed that Trump and Putin would discuss Ukraine’s conflict and the broader state of US-Russia relations, with the conversation expected to last "as long as they deem necessary." Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov highlighted that the two leaders already had a "certain understanding" from their previous call on February 12 and subsequent diplomatic engagements. However, he noted that "a large number of questions" remained regarding both bilateral relations and a resolution to the war.

Zelenskyy stands firm on Ukraine’s sovereignty

The phone call between Trump and Putin has raised concerns among US allies. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Putin of prolonging the conflict intentionally and has remained firm that Ukraine’s sovereignty is non-negotiable.

Zelenskyy insists that Russia must relinquish the territory it has occupied, warning that if Moscow is allowed to retain control, its territorial ambitions will not stop at Ukraine. Since its annexation of Crimea in 2014, Russia has seized large parts of four eastern Ukrainian regions following its 2022 invasion, now controlling about 20% of Ukraine’s territory.

On the other hand, Putin has justified the invasion by citing NATO’s eastward expansion as a threat to Russia’s security. He has demanded that Ukraine abandon its aspirations to join the Western military alliance. Additionally, he has insisted that Russia must retain control over the occupied territories, that Western sanctions be eased, and that Kyiv hold a presidential election. Zelenskyy, elected in 2019, continues to govern under martial law imposed due to the ongoing war.

Trump’s approach to Russia

Since assuming office, Trump has taken steps to bring the United States closer to Moscow, even as he has distanced himself from traditional Nato allies. On Monday, Trump described the upcoming call with Putin as "very important," telling reporters, "We're getting down to a very critical stage." He reiterated on Truth Social that while progress had been made on a final agreement, there were still unresolved issues. "I look very much forward to the call with President Putin," he said.

Putin, for his part, stated last week that while he was open to a ceasefire, he had "serious questions" about its implementation, which he intended to discuss with Trump. Given Moscow’s continued control over significant portions of Ukraine’s south and east, US officials have suggested that any peace deal would likely require Ukraine to make territorial concessions.

On Sunday, Trump hinted that he and Putin would discuss the division of certain assets, including land and power infrastructure — specifically referring to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Europe’s largest, which is currently under Russian control.

With skepticism surrounding Putin’s intentions and questions over Trump’s willingness to exert pressure on Moscow, the outcome of their conversation could prove pivotal in shaping the future of the conflict.