Faith Nyasuguta
In a significant development, President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Tuesday to a limited ceasefire focused on halting attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The White House hailed the move as a step toward peace, but broader negotiations remain uncertain as Putin’s demands continue to clash with Kyiv’s stance.
The call, which lasted over an hour, resulted in what Trump called an “immediate pause on all strikes targeting energy infrastructure.” However, Russia stopped short of agreeing to the 30-day comprehensive ceasefire the U.S. has been pushing for.
“We agreed to an immediate ceasefire on all energy and infrastructure, with an understanding that we’ll work toward a complete ceasefire and, ultimately, an end to this horrible war,” Trump announced on social media shortly after the call.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed caution over the development, emphasizing that any negotiations must include Ukraine. “There are two sides in this war, Russia and Ukraine. Trying to negotiate without Ukraine will not be productive,” Zelenskyy remarked.
Zelenskyy also rejected Putin’s demand for ending military aid and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine, warning that such a move would weaken the country’s ability to defend itself. “We need to understand the details. Hopefully, our partners will discuss everything with us,” he added.
The Kremlin reiterated Putin’s conditions for a broader peace deal, which include halting Western military aid, Ukraine pulling troops from four Russian-annexed regions, and renouncing NATO membership aspirations. None of these demands are acceptable to Kyiv.
One immediate outcome of the Trump-Putin call was the announcement of a prisoner exchange. Russia agreed to release 175 Ukrainian prisoners of war, along with 23 severely wounded soldiers, in exchange for 175 Russian captives.
In addition, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that talks had touched on ensuring the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, which has been a flashpoint of tension throughout the war. Control of the plant remains a contentious issue, with Russia seizing it early in the conflict.
The limited ceasefire comes after months of back-and-forth negotiations. Trump has made ending the Ukraine conflict a top foreign policy priority, even at the risk of straining U.S. relations with European allies. He has previously blamed Ukraine for prolonging the war and suggested Russia holds more leverage in negotiations.
Trump’s recent handling of U.S. support for Ukraine has been controversial. Following a tense February meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump temporarily paused intelligence-sharing and military aid to Ukraine. The suspension was lifted only after Kyiv agreed to consider Trump’s 30-day ceasefire proposal.
The limited pause is far from the comprehensive peace many have hoped for. Putin has not softened his stance on territorial claims, and Ukrainian forces remain under pressure as Russia continues its offensive.
“The cards are in Putin’s hands,” Trump remarked during a recent interview. “We’re trying to get to peace, but Ukraine needs to understand its position.”
As the conflict grinds on, Tuesday’s agreement offers a flicker of hope, but the path to lasting peace remains as elusive as ever.
RELATED:
