During a lengthy phone call on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to halt strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure temporarily. However, Putin did not commit to the broader 30-day ceasefire that the U.S. administration has advocated for.

The White House described the agreement as a step toward peace, hoping to lead to a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea and, eventually, a lasting resolution to the war. However, there was no sign that Putin was willing to soften his demands for a peace deal, which Kyiv strongly opposes. Shortly after the call ended, air raid sirens rang out in Kyiv, followed by explosions, prompting local officials to urge residents to take shelter. According to the Kremlin, Putin repeated his condition that foreign military and intelligence support for Ukraine must end. However, Trump later denied that this issue was discussed during an interview with Fox News.

“We didn’t talk about aid,” Trump declared. “We didn’t talk about aid at all.”

Russia has demanded that Ukraine withdraw its troops from four regions that Moscow claims to have annexed but does not fully control. Additionally, Russia wants Ukraine to abandon any plans of joining NATO and significantly reduce the size of its military.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is open to discussions that could lead to a lasting and fair peace but emphasised the importance of transparency in negotiations. He also said he was seeking more details about what was discussed between Putin and Trump but firmly rejected Putin’s demand to cut off military aid and intelligence support to Ukraine, warning that doing so would weaken the country.

“We need to understand what the conversation is about,” Zelenskyy stated. “What are the details? And hopefully, we will be fully informed, and our partners will discuss everything with us.” He further said, “There are two sides in this war — Russia and Ukraine. Trying to negotiate without Ukraine, in my view, will not be productive.”

Earlier this month, Ukrainian officials suggested a ceasefire that would include the Black Sea, halt long-range missile strikes, and involve a prisoner exchange. On Tuesday, Trump welcomed the development, calling it a significant step toward his broader goal of ending Europe's most extensive land war since World War II.

On social media Trump posted, “We agreed to an immediate Ceasefire on all Energy and Infrastructure, with an understanding that we will be working quickly to have a Complete Ceasefire and, ultimately, an END to this very horrible War between Russia and Ukraine,”.

Putin informed Trump that Russia and Ukraine plan to exchange 175 prisoners of war each on Wednesday, with Russia also set to release 23 severely wounded Ukrainian soldiers, according to the Kremlin. This exchange comes as Trump continues efforts to secure Russia's approval for a 30-day ceasefire aimed at halting the invasion of Ukraine. Last week, Ukrainian officials agreed to the ceasefire proposal during negotiations in Saudi Arabia, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Following this, White House special envoy Steve Witkoff travelled to Moscow to discuss the plan with Putin. Despite these developments, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy remains doubtful that Putin is genuinely interested in peace as Russian forces continue their attacks on Ukraine. Zelenskyy asserted, “This is not a game where only Putin dictates the rules,” emphasising his scepticism about Putin's sincerity in seeking peace.

Trump’s recent engagement with Putin is another development in the rapidly evolving relationship between the U.S. and Russia. Ending the war in Ukraine has become a top priority for Trump, even if it means straining relations with traditional American allies who want Putin held accountable for the invasion.

At times, Trump has praised his ties with Putin and placed blame on Ukraine for Russia’s unprovoked aggression. He has also accused Zelenskyy of prolonging the war unnecessarily despite it being the most significant land conflict in Europe since World War II. Trump has claimed that Washington and Moscow have already started discussions on dividing certain assets between Ukraine and Russia as part of a peace deal. Before his call with Putin, he stated that control over land and power plants would be key topics. The conversation coincided with the anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea 11 years ago, an event that set the stage for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Neither the White House nor the Kremlin mentioned anything about land or power plants in their official statements following the call.

However, on Sunday, White House special envoy Steve Witkoff indicated that U.S. and Russian officials had discussed the future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, in southern Ukraine. Russian forces took control of the facility early in the war, and it has since been caught in the ongoing conflict, raising fears of a potential nuclear disaster. Before the war, the plant was a crucial energy source, supplying nearly a quarter of Ukraine’s electricity.

Following a tense and unproductive meeting with Zelenskyy at the White House on February 28, Trump briefly suspended certain military intelligence-sharing and aid to Ukraine. However, the assistance was reinstated after Ukrainian officials agreed to the Trump administration’s 30-day ceasefire proposal last week.

Trump has often stressed the balance of power in his interactions with Zelenskyy and Putin, repeatedly stating that Putin holds the advantage while Zelenskyy does not. Known for his admiration of Putin, Trump also desires to restore normal relations between the United States and Russia. During his recent tense meeting with Zelenskyy, the president complained that “Putin went through a hell of a lot with me,” referring to the federal investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, in which he defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton.

On Tuesday, Trump reiterated his belief that Ukraine is not in a favourable negotiation position. He claimed that Russian forces had encircled Ukrainian troops in Russia’s Kursk region, echoing statements made by Russian officials. However, this claim has been challenged by Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.

In an interview on Fox News Channel’s “Ingraham Angle,” Trump commented on the situation, stating, “They are nicely encircled, and that’s not good.” He added, “And we want to get it over with.”

In August last year, Ukraine’s military surprised Russia by launching an offensive across the border and seizing approximately 1,300 square kilometres (500 square miles) of territory. However, Ukrainian forces are now retreating, significantly weakening their leverage as discussions for a ceasefire with Russia gain momentum. According to the White House, Trump and Putin also talked about the situation in the Middle East and agreed that “Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel.”

U.S. officials have previously stated that Iran has supplied Russia with short-range ballistic missiles and attack drones for its war in Ukraine. They have also accused Iran of helping Russia establish a drone-manufacturing facility. Meanwhile, the Kremlin reported that Trump showed interest in Putin’s proposal to organise hockey matches between American and Russian players. These games would feature teams from the National Hockey League (which includes U.S. and Canadian teams) and the Kontinental Hockey League, which has teams from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and China.