President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to begin talks aimed at a ceasefire in Ukraine, focusing on halting attacks on energy and infrastructure. During a phone call on Tuesday (March 18), both leaders discussed a 30-day pause on such attacks as part of a broader peace agreement. The Kremlin stated that Moscow is seeking a long-term settlement, with Putin emphasizing the need to end foreign intelligence sharing and military aid to Ukraine.

The White House announced that the ceasefire talks would include technical negotiations on a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, aiming for a full ceasefire and permanent peace. These negotiations are set to begin immediately in the Middle East. While Ukraine has agreed to a U.S.-backed 30-day truce, Putin has not yet signed off on this plan.

During the call, Putin also mentioned a planned prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine, involving 175 individuals from each side. The Kremlin confirmed that this exchange is scheduled for Wednesday (March 19). Additionally, the leaders discussed potential cooperation in the Middle East to prevent future conflicts and agreed on the importance of stopping the proliferation of strategic weapons.

The call lasted around two hours and marked the second conversation between Trump and Putin since Trump began his second term in office. The ongoing negotiations and discussions are part of Trump's broader efforts to end the three-year-long conflict in Ukraine. However, the success of these talks remains uncertain, as Ukraine's acceptance of the terms, including potential territorial concessions, is still unclear.

Vicki McKenna