Trump, Putin Discuss ‘Lasting Peace’ in Ukraine, Says White House

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke for approximately two hours on Tuesday, discussing efforts to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. The White House confirmed that the conversation focused on Trump’s proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine has already accepted.

Russia Yet to Fully Commit to Ceasefire

While the Ukrainian government has agreed to the U.S.-backed plan for a full, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire, Putin has yet to give his full approval. The Russian leader has instead outlined several conditions and requested further clarifications before making a final decision.

During their call, Trump and Putin discussed steps toward peace, including energy and infrastructure-related ceasefire agreements and maritime security negotiations in the Black Sea. A White House statement emphasized that "both leaders agreed this conflict needs to end with a lasting peace" and that resources "would be better spent on the needs of their people."

A look at the full statement from the White House

Kremlin Signals Cooperation

Following the call, the Kremlin released a statement confirming that discussions covered a wide range of topics, including economic and energy cooperation between the two nations. The Russian government announced a goodwill gesture, stating that it would hand over 23 seriously wounded Ukrainian soldiers to Kyiv.

"Putin reaffirmed his fundamental commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine," the Kremlin said, adding that the Russian president "reacted constructively" to Trump’s idea of enhancing security in the Black Sea.

Perhaps the most notable takeaway from the conversation was Putin’s agreement to pause strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure for 30 days. The Kremlin described this move as part of an effort to work toward "sustainable and long-term solutions."

Negotiations to Begin Immediately

According to the White House, technical negotiations for ceasefire implementation will begin soon, with talks taking place in the Middle East. Additionally, Trump and Putin discussed the importance of non-proliferation efforts, particularly concerning Iran, and agreed that "Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel."

Both leaders also acknowledged the potential for improved U.S.-Russia relations, stating that stronger ties could lead to greater economic cooperation and global stability.

Next Steps in Peace Efforts

Trump has made ending the war in Ukraine a priority, and his administration has been pushing for a diplomatic resolution. Last week, White House envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin in Moscow for four hours, later describing the talks as "positive" and "solutions-based."

With Putin now agreeing to a temporary halt in attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities, attention will turn to whether a broader ceasefire deal can be reached in the coming days.