The United States, mediating between Russia and Ukraine, agreed on the 18th (local time) to pursue a partial ceasefire plan to temporarily halt mutual attacks on energy and infrastructure facilities for 30 days.
The Kremlin stated that during a phone call lasting about 90 minutes between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the two leaders agreed to cease attacks on energy infrastructure facilities for 30 days.
President Trump proposed to mutually cease attacks on energy and infrastructure facilities for 30 days, to which President Putin responded positively and ordered the military to cease attacks on energy infrastructure, the Kremlin explained.
However, President Putin rejected the initially proposed comprehensive ceasefire plan for 30 days, citing concerns about the effectiveness of ceasefire control and the possibility of mobilization and rearmament in Ukraine, although he accepted a modified proposal.
In response, the White House explained that the two leaders agreed to a ceasefire in the energy and infrastructure sectors, while also agreeing to immediately start technical negotiations on the implementation of the ceasefire in the Black Sea and on comprehensive ceasefire and permanent peace in the Middle East.
However, Russia mentioned a cease in attacks on energy-related infrastructure such as oil refineries and pipelines, while the United States referred to a cease in attacks on other infrastructure facilities, revealing a difference in perception regarding the ceasefire targets.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters that he supports the proposal to cease attacks on energy and infrastructure, adding, 'If Russia respects the ceasefire proposal from the U.S. and Russia, we will do the same,' and emphasized that 'the United States must be a guarantor.'
President Zelensky expressed a desire to speak with President Trump to discuss the specifics of the phone call between the U.S. and Russian leaders, stating, 'After we receive the details, we will provide our response.'
A variable is President Putin's demand for 'the cessation of Western support for Ukraine.' On the same day, President Putin insisted that foreign military and intelligence support for Ukraine must be completely discontinued, demanding the cessation of military and intelligence support for Ukraine that President Trump had temporarily suspended after a meeting with President Zelensky on the 28th of last month.
In response, President Zelensky stated, 'Our partners will not agree to the cessation of military support for Ukraine and hope for the continuation of support.'
Germany and France, key European nations supporting Ukraine, initially welcomed the agreement between the United States and Russia but insisted that Ukraine's opinions must be reflected. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, who was visiting Berlin, that 'the goal is a just and lasting peace for Ukraine,' adding that 'decisions must not be made without the exclusion of Ukraine.' Macron also stated, 'Nothing is possible without Ukraine's participation in negotiations.'
Meanwhile, in the call, President Putin informed President Trump that Russia and Ukraine are scheduled to exchange 175 prisoners each on the 19th. The two leaders also exchanged views on negotiations related to the nonproliferation of 'strategic weapons,' which primarily refers to nuclear weapons.
The two leaders discussed the need to halt the proliferation of strategic weapons and agreed to engage with other parties in order to broadly implement the cessation of strategic weapon proliferation, the White House reported. This is interpreted as reflecting an intention to include China in disarmament and nonproliferation negotiations between the United States and Russia.
Additionally, the two leaders expressed agreement on improving U.S.-Russia relations, which have been on an upward trend since President Trump's inauguration. The White House stated that 'the two leaders emphasized the need for improving U.S.-Russia relations,' and 'agreed that there are significant advantages to a future where U.S.-Russia relations are improved.' It added, 'This includes substantial economic agreements and geopolitical stability when peace is achieved.'
The Kremlin announced that President Trump supported President Putin's proposal to hold a hockey game between U.S. and Russian players in the United States and Russia. The two leaders also discussed conflict prevention and potential cooperation in the Middle East, agreeing that Iran should not adopt a stance aimed at destroying Israel. It was not included in either side's announcement whether the issue of North Korean troops deployed to support Russia was discussed.
After the call, President Trump evaluated the conversation on social media, stating it was 'very good and productive,' while the Kremlin revealed that 'the discussion was detailed and candid.'