President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a crucial phone call Tuesday, agreeing to an immediate pause in strikes on Ukraineโs energy infrastructure. However, Putin stopped short of backing the broader 30-day ceasefire that the U.S. is pushing for.
Energy truce, but full ceasefire still uncertain
The White House hailed the agreement as the first step toward peace, hoping it will lead to a Black Sea ceasefire and eventually a complete end to the war. However, Putin reiterated his demand for Ukraine to end foreign military aid and scale down its army.
Shortly after the call ended, air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv, followed by explosions. Ukrainian officials urged residents to take cover.
Zelenskyy questions Trump Putin phone call terms
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is open to peace discussions but warned that any deal must be fully transparent. He remains skeptical of Putinโs intentions and firmly rejected halting military aid, which he believes would weaken Ukraine.
โThere are two sides in this warโRussia and Ukraine,โ Zelenskyy stated. โTrying to negotiate without Ukraine will not be productive.โ
Trump calls agreement a major step toward peace
Trump quickly praised the outcome, calling it a breakthrough toward ending the war. He announced that Russia and Ukraine will exchange 175 prisoners of war on Wednesday, including 23 injured Ukrainian soldiers.
The White House still hopes to secure Putinโs approval for a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukrainian officials already accepted during talks in Saudi Arabia.
U.S.-Russia relations take another turn
Trump has made ending the war a priority, even if it strains ties with U.S. allies who want Putin to face consequences for the invasion. He has repeatedly blamed Ukraine for prolonging the war while maintaining a strong relationship with Putin.
Before the call, Trump suggested that Washington and Moscow were discussing dividing assets in Ukraine, including land and power plants. However, neither the White House nor the Kremlin mentioned these topics in post-call statements.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant at the center of talks
Discussions reportedly included the fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europeโs largest, which Russian forces have controlled since 2022. The facility has been a high-risk zone, fueling fears of a nuclear disaster.
The plant produced nearly a quarter of Ukraineโs electricity before the war, making it a critical asset in any future deal.
Trumpโs shifting stance on Ukraine
After a failed White House meeting with Zelenskyy on February 28, Trump temporarily cut off military aid and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine. He restored it only after Ukraine agreed to the 30-day ceasefire framework.
Trump has repeatedly stated that Putin holds the upper hand, claiming Ukraine is in a weak negotiating position. He recently said Russian troops have surrounded Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region, though Ukrainian officials dispute this.
Trump and Putin discuss Iran and hockey diplomacy
The White House confirmed that Trump and Putin also discussed tensions in the Middle East, agreeing that Iran must never be in a position to destroy Israel.
Additionally, Putin reportedly proposed hockey matches between Russian and American teams, an idea that Trump expressed support for. The games would involve NHL players from the U.S. and Canada competing against Russiaโs Kontinental Hockey League teams.
What happens next?
The Trump Putin phone call may have secured a temporary truce, but a full ceasefire remains uncertain. Ukraine continues to resist Putinโs demands, and global leaders are watching closely to see if this deal leads to real peace or further division.
