Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to a 30-day pause of energy infrastructure strikes during a call with U.S. President Donald Trump this afternoon
Putin praised U.S. President Donald Trump for “striving to promote the noble goal of ending hostilities and the loss of life” after their phone call
During the call, Putin announced that Ukraine and Russia would conduct a 175-for-175 prisoner exchange. Moscow also pledged to release more than 23 seriously wounded Ukrainian soldiers to Kyiv.
The Kremlin has demanded a halt to foreign military aid and intelligence to Ukraine, calling it a “key condition for avoiding an escalation of the war.”
Any truce should also be “comprehensive, sustainable and long-term”, the Kremlin said, taking “into account the absolute need to eliminate the root causes of the crisis, Russia’s legitimate interests in the field of security”.
President Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social that the conversation with President Putin was “a very good and productive one”.
Washington announced that another round of talks on the Russian war in Ukraine would “begin immediately” in the Middle East.
Trump said new US sanctions on Russia had been prepared to “apply pressure” if necessary
Downing Street has welcomed “the progress President Trump has made towards a ceasefire” following his call with Vladimir Putin, but insisted negotiations must lead to a “just and lasting peace for Ukraine”
