President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump held a 2.5 hour-long phone conversation on Tuesday to discuss efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict.
Both leaders have 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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In the same interview, Trump commented on Russia’s ongoing operation to push the Ukrainian forces out of its Kursk Region. He said the Russian troops have “encircled about 2,500 soldiers” in the region invaded by Ukraine in early August.
Trump earlier urged Putin to “spare” the trapped Ukrainian servicemen. Putin, in turn, promised that the Ukrainians will not be harmed if they surrender.
Trump told Fox News’ Laura Ingraham that he did not discuss military aid to Ukraine during his conversation with Putin. “We talked about a lot of things, but aid was never discussed,” he said, according to Reuters.
Trump suspended weapons deliveries and restricted intelligence sharing with Kiev in early March, following a public argument with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky. During a highly contentious meeting in the Oval Office on February 28, Trump accused Zelensky of attempting to derail his mediation efforts.
The president resumed the aid after the US-Ukrainian talks in Saudi Arabia on March 11.
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Trump has reiterated that he remains optimistic about the negotiations. “I think we’ll end up making a deal. It’s a good start,” he told the Washington Examiner on Tuesday evening.
Asked on what comes next, Trump said, “Probably a full ceasefire at the appropriate time. It’s hard right now because you’ve got guys looking at each other with gun barrels … but the next thing would be a full ceasefire and a deal.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Trump for "leading the way towards peace.”
An unnamed senior Ukrainian official reportedly told the Financial Times that Kiev had requested “full information” from the White House regarding the call with Putin and was awaiting a response.
Russia’s Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) team is hoping that Kiev will honor the 30-day agreement to halt strikes on energy infrastructure, plant spokesperson Evgenya Yashina told TASS. She cited past violations of ceasefire commitments during the rotation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors.
The facility, the largest of its kind in Europe, has been under Moscow’s control since March 2022.
Zaporozhye Region, where the plant is located, voted to join Russia in a referendum, following years of targeting ethnic Russians in Ukraine. Since then both Moscow and Kiev have accused each other of attacking the facility and endangering its security. IAEA deployed a monitoring mission to the ZNPP in September 2022, which has been present on the ground ever since.
Vladimir Zelensky has expressed frustration over Kiev’s exclusion from negotiations. “I spoke about this very frankly with the American side. With all due respect, I don’t want to offend anyone, but I don’t want us to be on Putin’s ‘menu.’ Understand? We are not a salad or a dessert for this man, despite his appetite.”
His remarks echo those of defense analyst Michael Clarke, who told Sky News, “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu. And believe me, Ukraine is on the menu.”
The Putin-Trump call marks “an era of new diplomacy,” says Fyodor Lukyanov, the editor-in-chief of Russia in Global Affairs, in an analysis for RT. Trump sees Ukraine as a failing asset, not an ally, pushing Kiev to make tough concessions while sidelining NATO-EU countries, he adds.
Russia is holding firm, negotiating from a position of strength. Real diplomacy is back, and Washington and Moscow are now talking as equals.
The Putin-Trump phone call was a “resounding success,” something unimaginable just two months ago, argues historian Tarik Cyril Amar in an opinion piece for RT. Ukraine is no longer in control of its fate, as “the times of ‘nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine’ are over, forever,” with the US and Russia leading negotiations alone, he writes.
Moscow is making goodwill gestures but offering no real concessions, reinforcing its goals in the conflict while Kiev’s NATO-EU allies watch from the sidelines, Amar says. The West’s proxy war strategy is collapsing, and a new era of US-Russia détente is unfolding.
Read Amar’s full op-ed.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said that following the Putin-Trump phone call “the world has become a safer place.” He emphasized Hungary’s full backing of the peace agreement and expressed hope that “Brussels will not undermine the peace process.”
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has commented on the phone call, joking, “The European Union kept repeating that ‘the ball is in Moscow’s court.’ As it turned out, it was a hockey puck. And it’s in play.”
She referred to the reaction of several European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer who all used the phrase following Ukraine’s acceptance of the US ceasefire proposal last week.
Trump supports Putin’s idea of organizing hockey matches in the US and Russia between NHL and KHL players, as part of efforts to improve bilateral relations, the Kremlin revealed.
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has said that Kiev would support an energy infrastructure ceasefire, but needs more information.
“I think it will be right that we will have a conversation with President Trump and we will know in detail what the Russians offered the Americans or what the Americans offered the Russians,” he told reporters.
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.
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.”
“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.
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.
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.”
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.”
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.
Read Kremlin’s statement in full
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.”
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.
The Kremlin has reported that Putin supported Trump’s proposal for Russia and Ukraine to halt strikes on energy infrastructure for 30 days. He has instructed the military to implement this directive.
Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev has celebrated the call on X, stating, “Under the leadership of President Putin and President Trump, the world has become a much safer place today! Historic! Epic!”
A Russian source familiar with the call has reportedly told CNN that it “went very well.”
Putin has concluded his phone conversation with Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed to TASS.
A White House official told NBC News that the call between Trump and Putin has ended.
The conversation reportedly lasted over an hour and a half.
Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung has described the ongoing conversation as “the most important phone call in the world.”
American news outlet CNN has said its a “key test” of whether Trump can fulfill his campaign promise to end the conflict.
German tabloid Bild has noted that the call “has been awaited with great excitement for days.”
Russia 1 TV journalist Pavel Zarubin has declared from the Kremlin, “The whole world is waiting for the results!”
Previously, US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz had said that Ukraine should be ready to cede some territory in future peace talks with Russia. Speaking to ABC News on Sunday, he stated that a settlement “is going to be some type of territory for future security guarantees” for Kiev. While Ukraine claims sovereignty over Crimea, Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye, Moscow insists their status is non-negotiable.
Waltz said Ukraine “is incredibly unlikely” to join NATO. While Kiev aspires to join the alliance, Moscow sees this ambition as a key cause of the conflict. Waltz argued that efforts to “drive every Russian off of every inch of Ukrainian soil, including Crimea” are unrealistic. Instead, he emphasized that US-led diplomacy should focus on “the reality of the situation on the ground.”
The US is considering recognizing Crimea as part of Russia and may push the UN to follow suit, Semafor reported on Monday, citing sources.
While Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky supports a temporary ceasefire, he refuses to cede any territory. Trump has criticized him for not seeking peace, arguing that Zelensky “does not have the cards” to set the terms.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino has updated that the phone call between Trump and Putin is still ongoing.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino posted on X that Trump and Putin have been on the phone for an hour, and the call is “going well” and is still ongoing.
White House spokesman Harrison Fields has previewed the call on NewsNation, saying Putin “has a respect for President Trump because he understands who he’s dealing with.” He emphasized their past “very good working relationship in which the two men respected each other.” Fields also stated that Trump is committed to brokering peace, adding that “he’s probably going to be able to do in a very short period of time.”
Since their last conversation on February 12, Trump and Putin have made significant diplomatic strides. Trump’s administration has shifted away from Biden’s approach, prioritizing diplomacy with Russia while pressuring Ukraine to compromise. Kiev, while initially resistant, has since moderated its demands after battlefield setbacks in Russia’s Kursk Region and agreed to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. While Putin supports the ceasefire, he insists it must prevent Ukraine from regrouping.
READ MORE about key developments since the last time the two leaders talked.
EU leaders are “trembling” ahead of the call between Putin and Trump, German tabloid Bild claimed on Tuesday.
EU and NATO states that neighbor Russia – namely Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – are reportedly “afraid” that the call could lead to a US troop withdrawal and a future Russian attack. Putin has dismissed claims of aggressive intentions toward NATO as “nonsense,” saying they are meant to fuel fear and military spending.
If Trump abandons Ukraine, powerful EU states might step in, risking a “showdown with Moscow and Washington,” Bild claimed.
France and the UK, which support sending Western peacekeepers to Ukraine despite Moscow’s strong opposition, are “also preparing for the worst possible Trump-Putin pact,” the newspaper added.
During last week’s US-Ukraine negotiations in Jeddah, Kiev agreed to a 30-day ceasefire. Shortly after, Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, traveled to Moscow to present the details of the proposal to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Putin has endorsed the ceasefire “in principle” but emphasized the need to resolve several outstanding issues before it can take effect, including the status of Ukrainian forces currently encircled in Russia’s Kursk Region.
While the specifics of Witkoff’s meeting with Putin have not been disclosed, Trump has hinted at progress, stating that the White House received “some pretty good news” on the ceasefire plan and that recent US-Russia discussions had been “very productive.”
Russia “has not lost hope” in achieving a ceasefire and resolving the Ukraine conflict, despite intensified attacks by Kiev on Russian territory, Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov has stated.
In an interview with Kommersant on Tuesday, ahead of a scheduled phone call between Putin and US President Donald Trump, Ushakov emphasized that Moscow is “grasping at every opportunity” for a swift resolution.
Foreign companies that fled the Russian market in 2022 have lost their claim to their former positions, Putin said. The government will protect Russian companies from competition with ongoing investment plans when considering the requests of foreign firms seeking to return, he added.
This does not apply to foreign firms which de facto preserved their businesses in Russia despite the risks by rebranding their property under a Russian banner. However, those which made a show of their exit or tried to sabotage the Russian economy while leaving backdoors open for a possible return would face different treatment, the Russian president warned.
Western economic advantages, such as advanced technologies, deserve acknowledgement and respect, but objective factors will cause the West to lag behind other parts of the world in terms of growth rates for decades to come, Putin has stated. In a sense, forced decoupling of the Russian economy was a good thing, since the country had to accelerate its economic adjustment.
The G7 group of nations – ‘The Great Seven’ – is a misnomer by now, Putin suggested, using a term for the group common in Russia.
“What’s so great about it? Unclear. [Most members] can hardly be found on a map,” he joked.
The club includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, who were the biggest economies at the time of the group’s creation in the 1970s.
Only countries that can defend their sovereignty can expect stable economic development in the interest of their peoples, clarified Putin. European nations have lost their sovereignty and as a result compromised their economies and security.
“It’s obvious, and I have already said, that things won’t go back to how they were. There is no hope for full freedom of trade, payments, and transfer of capital. And there can be no reliance on Western mechanisms for protection of the rights of investors and entrepreneurs,” Putin has said.
There are currently 28,595 separate restrictions being applied against Russia, Putin said, citing a list compiled by the Finance Ministry.
Russian business has been facing serious challenges over the past several years, including foreign sanctions inhibiting access to international markets, Putin said. Businessmen have adapted to the new environment by finding alternatives to Western-controlled payment systems and other mechanisms required to continue trade with foreign partners.
“The sanctions are not temporary or targeted measures. They are a mechanism for applying systematic strategic pressure on our country,” he explained.
Foreign competitors will be interested in keeping Russia down regardless of the circumstances, Putin said.
US President Donald Trump is looking forward to the upcoming conversation with Vladimir Putin, during which they will discuss resolving the Ukraine conflict.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump stated that he planned to talk with Putin today, marking their second conversation since he took office. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Monday that the call between the two leaders was scheduled for the following day.
Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump emphasized that the discussion would center on efforts to end the ongoing war. “Thousands of young soldiers, and others, are being killed... it must end NOW,” he wrote.
Remarking on the potential for a peace agreement, Trump said that “many elements of a Final Agreement have been agreed to, but much remains.”
Putin has thanked Russian businessmen representing the entire community of entrepreneurs at the RSPP’s annual meeting for the work they do to strengthen Russia economically.
“Thousands of employees and the welfare of millions of people depend on you,” he said.