President Donald Trump had a critical telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday as part of the push to organize a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. The senior-level discussion focused on a mutual pause on attacks on energy infrastructure, which has characterized the conflict thus far. Although Putin accepted Trump’s offer, no commitment was made to the 30-day ceasefire that Ukraine had committed to last week, despite Trump having been hopeful about it.
A White House statement after the call stated that both leaders concurred on the importance of ending the war with a lasting peace. The leaders also reaffirmed the importance of better bilateral relations between Russia and the United States. Both nations’ ongoing expenditure in the war, according to the White House, would be employed more constructively in the well-being of the people.
Following the invitation, American Special Envoy Steve Witkoff highlighted developments in negotiations with Russia, adding that negotiations are to be initiated in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday. The negotiations will be led by U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Witkoff clarified that agreements on the halt of energy attacks and the Black Sea moratorium had set the stage for a potential ceasefire, with much work yet to be done to clinch the fine print.
Trump, during a recorded interview with Fox News, conceded that a 30-day ceasefire would have been difficult to achieve given the tenuous military situation. He hoped, however, that the peace talks would ultimately lead to a total ceasefire, albeit a gradual process. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was skeptical of the ceasefire initiative, viewed a partial ceasefire as an encouraging step.
The White House readout also underscored the importance of efforts at peace and that early-stage negotiations would first deal with an end to attacks on energy and infrastructure, followed by talks on enforcing a Black Sea maritime ceasefire. Trump’s post-call statements reaffirmed that the conversation had been “very good and productive,” and that both sides were committed to pushing as quickly as possible towards an all-out ceasefire.
The leaders also briefly addressed geopolitical concerns on a global scale, including in the Middle East, and more specifically Iran. The appeal emphasized improved U.S.-Russia relations having more economic and geopolitical benefits to be realized through peace.
