President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin engaged in an extended phone call Tuesday, reaching an agreement on the first steps toward ending the war in Ukraine. The discussion, which lasted nearly 90 minutes, focused on halting attacks on critical infrastructure while setting the stage for broader peace talks.
According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, both leaders acknowledged the importance of ending the war and improving U.S.-Russia relations. “The blood and treasure that both Ukraine and Russia have been spending in this war would be better spent on the needs of their people,” Leavitt stated.
My phone conversation today with President Putin of Russia was a very good and productive one. 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…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) March 18, 2025
As part of the initial agreement, Moscow has pledged to halt strikes on Ukrainian power facilities for 30 days, though Putin expressed concerns over Ukraine’s commitment to upholding its side of the ceasefire. While Putin agreed to Trump’s request for a temporary pause, he pushed for further negotiations on Western military aid to Kyiv.
Readout of President Donald J. Trump's Call with President Vladimir Putin:
Today, President Trump and President Putin spoke about the need for peace and a ceasefire in the Ukraine war. Both leaders agreed this conflict needs to end with a lasting peace. They also stressed the…
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) March 18, 2025
The Kremlin’s readout of the call revealed that Putin sees an end to foreign arms shipments as a necessary condition for a lasting ceasefire. However, Trump has yet to announce any formal changes to U.S. policy on military support for Ukraine.
JUST IN:
Russian President Putin has agreed to a ceasefire in Ukraine under the conditions that they work for a 'permanent peace'.
Trump made this happen.
Democrats wanted the war to keep going.
We are not the same. pic.twitter.com/pYz1pWPAsM
— AmericanPapaBear (@AmericaPapaBear) March 13, 2025
The discussion also touched on broader security concerns, including preventing the proliferation of advanced weapons and the need to ensure Iran does not pose a threat to Israel. While Trump emphasized that a peaceful resolution to global conflicts was his priority, Putin stopped short of committing to any specific actions regarding Middle Eastern stability.
This diplomatic breakthrough comes after Trump’s recent decision to suspend certain military aid packages to Ukraine and his demand that Zelensky agree to new economic arrangements with the U.S. before further assistance is provided.
Despite these initial steps, the negotiations remain fragile. A temporary pause in attacks on infrastructure is a step forward, but Putin’s continued insistence on limiting Western aid to Ukraine could complicate further peace efforts. The coming weeks will determine if this agreement can serve as a foundation for lasting peace or if the conflict will continue under new conditions.
