The White House has announced that Russia and the US will immediately begin negotiations in the Middle East to resolve the Ukraine conflict
Russian President Vladimir Putin. © Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov
President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump held a phone conversation on Tuesday to discuss efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict.
Both leaders have reportedly agreed on the need for a “lasting peace” and confirmed a 30-day mutual suspension of strikes on energy infrastructure.
According to the Kremlin, “Putin…immediately gave the corresponding order to the Russian military.”
The two leaders also addressed a potential maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, broader negotiations to end hostilities, and the need to prevent further escalation.
The Kremlin has confirmed that a prisoner exchange of 175 detainees from Kiev and Moscow respectively will take place on March 19, and Russia will transfer 23 severely wounded Ukrainian soldiers as a goodwill gesture.
The White House has announced that Russia and the US will immediately start negotiations in the Middle East to resolve the conflict.
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18 March 2025
19:26 GMT
Germany’s outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz has welcomed the ceasefire on energy infrastructure agreed upon by Trump and Putin, calling it an “important first step,” adding that a “complete ceasefire for Ukraine” must follow soon.
“The next step must be a complete ceasefire for Ukraine and as quickly as possible. Of course, it is clear that we both agree on this too,” Scholz said at a press conference in Berlin alongside French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday.
- 18:58 GMT
Donald Trump has shared his personal comments after his phone conversation with Vladimir Putin, describing it as “a very good and productive one” in a post on Truth Social. He announced an “immediate ceasefire on all energy and infrastructure,” with efforts underway for a “complete ceasefire” and an end to the conflict. Trump stated that both Putin and Zelensky want the war to end, stating that “many elements of a contract for peace were discussed.” He emphasized that the process is now “in full force and effect” and expressed hope for a resolution “for the sake of Humanity.”
- 18:58 GMT
“There’s an old saying in diplomatic circles: ‘If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.’ And believe me, Ukraine is on the menu,” defense analyst Michael Clarke has told Sky News, noting the absence of Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky in the discussions between Putin and Trump.
- 18:50 GMT
The Ukrainian military launched an attempted incursion into Russia’s Belgorod region on Tuesday morning in what Moscow claims was an effort to “create a negative backdrop” for the phone Putin-Trump call, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces carried out five attacks throughout the day, with the latest offensive occurring from 17:30 to 18:45 local time. The assaults involved “up to 200 Ukrainian militants and 29 pieces of military equipment.” Russian forces successfully repelled the attacks, preventing any territorial gains, the statement added.
- 18:42 GMT
Samuel Charap, a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation, the Washington-based global policy and security think-tank, has shared on X that the phased ceasefire approach is “a possible viable path to an eventual cessation of hostilities” if implemented effectively.
Charap noted that the agreements reached “more-or-less” revived two past deals between Russia and Ukraine that had nearly been finalized but ultimately failed. One was the energy infrastructure non-strikes deal, which reportedly collapsed following Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk, and the other was a Black Sea shipping arrangement, which, according to Reuters, was close to completion last spring.
Charap believes that starting with “small, more verifiable steps that can build confidence” is a more practical approach than attempting an immediate full ceasefire. “We’ll see how it goes from here,” he concluded, emphasizing that while the outcome depends on further implementation, it “is not a bad result.”
- 18:22 GMT
Russian MP Leonid Slutsky, speaking to RT, has described the Putin-Trump negotiations as “148 minutes of effective diplomacy that could become a prelude to peace, provided Russia’s national interests are upheld.”
- 18:21 GMT
The positions of Moscow and Washington may gradually converge and there is no space for Ukraine between them, Russian State Duma deputy Alexei Zhuravlyov has told RT
“We will negotiate only and exclusively with the US,” he added.
- 18:15 GMT
Read Kremlin’s statement in full
- 17:42 GMT
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has stated on X that Trump and Putin discussed the need for “peace and a ceasefire” , agreeing the the conflict must end with a “lasting peace.” The peace initiative will begin with an “energy and infrastructure ceasefire” and negotiations on a maritime Black Sea truce. Talks will also focus on preventing future conflicts in the Middle East and averting the proliferation of strategic weapons. Leavitt added that Trump and Putin see an improved US-Russia relationship as having “huge upside,” including “enormous economic deals and geopolitical stability.”
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
- 17:28 GMT
The Kremlin has reported that Putin and Trump had a detailed and candid exchange of views on the situation in Ukraine during their call. Putin informed Trump that Russia and Ukraine would conduct a prisoner exchange on Wednesday, based on a 175-for-175 formula.
He also responded constructively to Trump’s initiative on maritime security in the Black Sea, the Kremlin has confirmed.
Both leaders reportedly expressed a mutual interest in normalizing relations, recognizing their shared responsibility for global security and have agreed to maintain contacts.
Putin reaffirmed his commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict and expressed readiness to work with Washington on a sustainable and long-term settlement. As a goodwill gesture, Russia will transfer 23 severely wounded Ukrainian soldiers to Kiev.
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