Putin agrees to 30-day halt to attack on Ukraine’s energy grid after call with Trump
Putin Trump Meeting: White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino posted a social media update on the call, confirming the call is under way
File Photo of US President Donald Trump with Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Photo: AP) Russia Ukraine War Update: In a significant step toward de-escalation, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a limited ceasefire, halting attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure following a high-stakes phone call with US President Donald Trump. However, the Russian leader stopped short of committing to a broader ceasefire, tempering hopes for a swift end to hostilities.
The phone call resulted in a preliminary agreement between Putin and Trump to cease targeting Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure. Trump, who described the conversation as “very good and productive” on his Truth Social platform, expressed optimism about further progress toward a full ceasefire and an end to the war.
“We agreed to an immediate ceasefire on all energy and infrastructure targets, with the understanding that we will work quickly to reach a complete ceasefire and, ultimately, an end to this very horrible war between Russia and Ukraine,” Trump wrote.
Despite this announcement, the situation on the ground in Ukraine remained precarious. Hours after the call, air raid sirens blared across Kyiv as Russian drones targeted the capital. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Russia had launched more than 40 drones at civilian infrastructure, including a hospital in the northeastern city of Sumy. “In many regions, we can exactly hear what it is that Russia wants,” Zelenskyy said, hinting at continued aggression despite the partial ceasefire agreement.
What has been Ukraine’s response?
Zelenskyy, who had previously signalled openness to a ceasefire focused on infrastructure protection, responded cautiously to the developments. He expressed a willingness to further explore the agreement but underscored the need for additional details before committing fully.
“I think it will be right that we will have a conversation with President Trump and we will know in detail what the Russians offered the Americans or what the Americans offered the Russians,” Zelenskyy said in a statement on Telegram. He also indicated that Ukraine was waiting for further information from Washington before responding formally.
While a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure would mark a notable breakthrough —representing the first partial ceasefire since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022 — the scope of the agreement remains narrow.
Trump’s take: Ceasefire a ‘tough’ sell without further progress
In an interview with Fox News’s Laura Ingraham following the call, Trump acknowledged the complexity of the situation, stating that while a ceasefire on infrastructure was a positive step, the broader conflict required more comprehensive solutions. He noted that Russia held a strategic advantage, having encircled approximately 2,500 Ukrainian soldiers in a key battleground.
“Right now, you have a lot of guns pointing at each other, and a ceasefire without going a little bit further would have been tough,” Trump remarked. He also denied reports that the issue of halting US military aid to Ukraine had been discussed during the call, despite Russian media claims to the contrary.
“We didn’t talk about aid, actually,” Trump insisted. “We talked about a lot of things, but aid was never discussed.”
What are Putin’s demands?
According to a Kremlin statement released after the call, Putin outlined a series of “significant issues” that he believed needed to be addressed before a broader ceasefire could be implemented. Chief among them was the cessation of all Western military aid to Ukraine, a demand that has long been a sticking point in any negotiations involving Russia’s war effort.
“It was emphasized that a key condition for preventing the escalation of the conflict and working toward its resolution through political and diplomatic means must be the complete cessation of foreign military aid and the provision of intelligence to Kyiv,” the Kremlin said.
Putin also reportedly called for Ukraine to halt the mobilization of new troops, raising concerns that Russia’s position in any future peace talks would involve significant demands aimed at weakening Ukraine’s military capabilities.
How has the world reacted?
The initial response from international leaders has been one of cautious optimism, tempered by the recognition that any ceasefire must be sustainable and fair to Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, praised the limited ceasefire as a “good start” but warned that a complete ceasefire and long-term peace could not be achieved without Ukraine’s full involvement.
“The next step must be a complete ceasefire for Ukraine, and as quickly as possible,” Scholz said, calling for further negotiations.
In the UK, Downing Street welcomed the progress made by Trump but reiterated that any agreement must lead to a “just and lasting peace for Ukraine.” This reflects broader European concerns about the possibility of the US prioritizing a deal with Russia at the expense of Kyiv’s long-term security interests.
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