Moscow, March 19, 2025 – The Europe Today: Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held a phone call on Tuesday to discuss ongoing efforts to establish a ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict, the Kremlin has confirmed. This marks the second direct conversation between the two leaders since Trump returned to office in January.
According to the Kremlin, Putin expressed support for Trump’s proposal for Russia and Ukraine to mutually halt strikes on energy infrastructure for 30 days. The Russian leader has instructed his military to implement the directive. Additionally, the Kremlin reported that Putin responded positively to Trump’s suggestion regarding a previously discussed initiative to ensure the safety of navigation in the Black Sea. Both leaders agreed to commence negotiations on the matter.
The phone call follows the US’s unveiling of a 30-day ceasefire initiative last week, which came after meetings with Ukrainian representatives in Saudi Arabia. While Putin has stated his openness to the proposed truce, he has also emphasized the need to address key issues before proceeding. These include the situation of Ukrainian troops encircled in Russia’s Kursk Region and guarantees that Kiev will not use the ceasefire period to rearm and reinforce its military.
Trump had previously expressed optimism that his conversation with Putin would lead to significant progress in ceasefire efforts, citing discussions on key topics such as territorial disputes and energy infrastructure.
Their previous call on February 12 marked the first direct communication between the US and Russian leaders in years. This was followed by high-level negotiations in Saudi Arabia on February 18, where Washington and Moscow agreed to form working teams to address the Ukraine conflict, restore embassy operations, and resolve other bilateral issues. Additional discussions have since taken place in Istanbul, focusing on diplomatic funding and a proposal from Moscow to reinstate direct flights between the two countries.
The latest engagement between Putin and Trump signals ongoing diplomatic efforts to bring stability to the region and resolve key points of contention in US-Russia relations.
