Moscow’s summary said Putin agreed to the 30-day ceasefire on energy infrastructure and had already given Russian troops the corresponding order.
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He also agreed to spare the lives of any Ukrainian soldiers in the Kursk region and extend them decent treatment in the event of their surrender, the readout said.
Putin said the two sides would each exchange 175 prisoners on March 19, and Russia would add another 23 injured Ukrainian soldiers being treated in Russian hospitals.
In a post on his TruthSocial website, Trump characterised the call with Putin as “very good and productive”. Noting the ceasefire on energy facilities, he stressed there was “an understanding that we will be working quickly to have a Complete Ceasefire and, ultimately, an END to this very horrible War”.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin called it “a detailed and frank exchange of views” and said Putin was grateful for Trump’s genuine desire to end the conflict.
Zelensky told reporters he supported the 30-day ceasefire on energy facilities, and said he would try to speak with Trump to ascertain the details of what each side offered during the phone call.
But as Ukraine came under Russian drone attacks on Tuesday despite the ceasefire talks, Zelensky said “only a real cessation of strikes on civilian infrastructure by Russia, as proof of its willingness to end this war, can bring peace closer”.
“Today, Putin effectively rejected the proposal for a full ceasefire,” he said in a post on X.
“It would be right for the world to respond by rejecting any attempts by Putin to prolong the war. Sanctions against Russia. Assistance to Ukraine. Strengthening allies in the free world and working toward security guarantees.”
Former British prime minister Boris Johnson, a staunch Ukraine ally who has called on Trump to stay the course in defending the country, said Putin’s rejection of an unconditional ceasefire was not surprising because he still wanted to disarm Ukraine and turn it into a vassal state of Russia.
“He isn’t negotiating. He’s laughing at us,” Johnson said of Putin.
Since Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 – a major escalation of a conflict that began with Putin’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 – the Russian leader has been frozen out of diplomatic relations in the western world.
But in Tuesday’s call, both leaders said they wanted to begin improving and normalising relations between the US and Russia, working together economically and co-operating strategically to solve problems in the Middle East.
The White House readout referred to “enormous economic deals” that could come from US-Russia co-operation.
Trump and Putin “discussed the need to stop proliferation of strategic weapons and will engage with others to ensure the broadest possible application. The two leaders shared the view that Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel”.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin said the two countries shared a “special responsibility … for ensuring security and stability in the world”. In particular, it praised the Trump administration’s decision to side with Russia at a recent United Nations vote on the Ukraine conflict.
According to the Kremlin’s summary, Trump also supported Putin’s suggestion National Hockey League and Kontinental Hockey League players should compete against each other in matches held in the US and Russia.
with Reuters
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