Following a call with U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin declined an immediate, comprehensive ceasefire, agreeing only to halt attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. This decision indicates that despite the communication between the two leaders, significant disagreements remain on key issues, highlighting the complexities of the situation.
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03-20, 2025Putin refused to sign onto a month-long comprehensive ceasefire agreement recently brokered by Trump's team with Ukraine in Saudi Arabia. He stated that a full cessation of hostilities would only be possible if foreign military aid and intelligence sharing to Ukraine ceased. This position contrasts with that of Ukraine's European allies, who have previously rejected such conditions, signaling a potential divergence in approaches to resolving the conflict.
While the U.S. and Russian leaders agreed to hold further peace talks in the Middle East imminently, the outcome of the call suggests a retreat from the Trump administration's position from just a week prior. Last Tuesday, when a U.S. delegation met with Ukrainian representatives in Jeddah, they persuaded Kyiv to agree to their proposal for an “immediate” 30-day ceasefire on land, in the air, and at sea, marking a significant diplomatic effort.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine was willing to accept a ceasefire agreement covering energy infrastructure, but wanted to first understand more details. "I think we should have a conversation with President Trump and understand in detail what the Russians offered the Americans, or the Americans offered the Russians," Zelenskyy said, emphasizing the need for clarity and transparency in the negotiation process.
Trump posted on social media that Tuesday's call with the Russian leader was "very good and productive." "We agreed to an immediate end to all attacks on energy and infrastructure, and understand that we will rapidly work towards a full ceasefire, and ultimately, a permanent peace between Russia and Ukraine, which is very doable!" the U.S. President said on Truth Social. "Many elements of the Peace Deal were discussed, including the fact that thousands of soldiers are dying, and that Presidents Putin and Zelenskyy both want to see it end."
Following the Jeddah talks, Secretary of State Marco Rubio had said that the “ball” was now in Russia’s court after the Ukrainians accepted Washington’s proposed comprehensive ceasefire offer. But the White House statement following the Trump-Putin call made no mention of the agreement with Kyiv. Instead, the statement said the two leaders agreed that the “peace process would begin with a ceasefire on energy and infrastructure,” followed by negotiations on a “Black Sea maritime ceasefire, a full cessation of hostilities, and a permanent peace.”
But the Kremlin’s statement on the call noted that there were a “number of fundamental issues” with implementing any agreement reached with Kyiv. The statement also said that ending foreign support and intelligence to Ukraine was a “key condition” for Russia. Trump and Putin agreed to immediately begin technical-level negotiations on a longer-term solution, which the Kremlin said must be “complex, stable, and long-lasting.”
Ukraine is likely to view the outcome of Tuesday’s highly anticipated call as Vladimir Putin buying time, while also attaching stringent conditions to any resolution. The Russian leader has already tasted Trump's willingness to cut off U.S. support to Ukraine and is trying to get him to repeat it, while also kicking the ball back to Kyiv, further complicating the path to a peaceful resolution.
