Trump and Putin Agree to Launch “Energy and Infrastructure” Ceasefire Talks, White House Confirms
March 18, 2025
In a significant step toward ending the war in Ukraine, President Donald Trump held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, where the two leaders agreed to immediately begin negotiations on an “energy and infrastructure” ceasefire, according to a detailed White House readout. The conversation, which wrapped up earlier today and was described as having gone “very well” by a Russian source, focused on halting the conflict that’s ravaged Ukraine since Russia’s invasion over three years ago. The White House framed the call as a mutual commitment to “lasting peace,” with both leaders eyeing a framework that could stabilize the region and unlock economic opportunities.
The agreement zeroes in on an initial ceasefire tied to energy and infrastructure—key sectors battered by the war—though specifics remain sparse. The White House hinted at a broader plan, noting that Trump and Putin also tasked negotiators with tackling a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, a hotspot for military and economic tensions, alongside a full ceasefire and a permanent peace deal. These technical discussions are set to kick off immediately in the Middle East, though exact locations and participants weren’t disclosed. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were present at the White House during the call, signaling high-level U.S. involvement.
Notably, Putin didn’t sign off on Trump’s previously touted 30-day ceasefire proposal, which Ukraine had already endorsed. That plan, hashed out in Saudi Arabia last week, aimed to pause fighting swiftly, but Russia’s lukewarm response has left its fate uncertain. Instead, the leaders pivoted to this new “energy and infrastructure” focus, which Trump has suggested could involve “dividing up certain assets” like land and power plants—comments he made to reporters on Air Force One over the weekend. The White House readout didn’t confirm those details but emphasized that both sides see “huge upside” in improving U.S.-Russia ties post-conflict, dangling the prospect of “enormous economic deals” and geopolitical stability.
The call, which started at 10:00 a.m. EDT and stretched past an hour, built on recent diplomatic groundwork. Trump’s team has been pressing for concessions from Russia, including potential troop withdrawals from Ukrainian territory seized since 2022, though Putin’s public stance remains rigid, often citing Kyiv’s government as the war’s “root cause.” Still, a Russian official, Kirill Dmitriev, took to X to claim the talks made the world “much safer,” while NATO’s Mark Rutte expressed confidence in Trump’s deal-making chops. With negotiations now underway, the world’s watching to see if this marks a turning point—or just another stall—in the brutal conflict.
