Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to pause attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure for 30 days following a conversation with former U.S. President Donald Trump, the Kremlin announced on Tuesday.
However, Putin made it clear that for a broader ceasefire to be possible, Ukraine must stop its military draft and halt the rearmament of its forces.
The Kremlin described the discussion as a “detailed and frank exchange of views,” with Putin insisting that any path to peace would require Western nations to cut off military and intelligence support to Kyiv.
During the call, Trump proposed a temporary halt to strikes on Ukraine’s power grid, and “Vladimir Putin responded positively, immediately giving the Russian military a corresponding command,” the Kremlin’s statement revealed.
As part of the diplomatic breakthrough, Russia and Ukraine are set to exchange 175 prisoners each on Wednesday.
Despite this brief window of de-escalation, Putin expressed skepticism about how a ceasefire would be monitored and maintained. He reiterated that a long-term solution could only be achieved if foreign aid to Ukraine was completely cut off.
With tensions still running high, the world watches closely to see if this pause in attacks will lead to a more lasting resolution—or if it’s just a temporary break in the conflict.
