Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to pause attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure for 30 days after a phone call with former U.S. President Donald Trump. However, Putin refused to agree to a full ceasefire, according to a Kremlin statement released on Tuesday.
The Kremlin confirmed that Russian forces would halt strikes on Ukrainian power facilities but insisted that a broader truce could only happen if foreign military aid to Ukraine stopped—terms that Ukraine’s European allies have rejected.
Trump described his conversation with Putin as "very good and productive" in a post on Truth Social. He stated, “We agreed to an immediate ceasefire on all energy and infrastructure, with an understanding that we will work quickly towards a full ceasefire and, ultimately, an end to this very horrible war.”
Meanwhile, U.S. diplomats are set to continue negotiations in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with further discussions on Ukraine scheduled for Sunday, according to U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
Despite the agreement, fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces has continued. Moscow has made recent territorial gains, particularly in the Kursk region, while Ukraine has intensified strikes on Russian oil facilities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was in Finland when Trump and Putin spoke, cautiously welcomed the temporary halt but stressed that further details were needed.
“These nighttime attacks by Russia destroy our energy sector, our infrastructure, and the normal life of Ukrainians,” Zelensky wrote on social media. “The fact that this night was no exception shows the need for continued pressure on Russia.”
Shortly after the Kremlin’s announcement, Russia launched over 40 drones at Ukrainian targets, including a hospital in Sumy and power supplies in Slovyansk, according to Zelensky. He accused Putin of rejecting a full ceasefire and urged the international community to take action.
“Putin has effectively rejected a full ceasefire,” Zelensky said. “The world should respond by rejecting any attempt to prolong the war.”
At the same time, Russia reported Ukrainian drone strikes on oil facilities in Krasnodar and Belgorod. Moscow also claimed that Ukrainian forces attempted a ground assault on Belgorod but were pushed back.
Last week, U.S. negotiators in Jeddah persuaded Kyiv to agree to a full 30-day ceasefire covering land, air, and sea, but Russia has not yet accepted those terms. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the next move is now up to Moscow.
As the war continues into its third year, both sides remain locked in conflict. Russian strikes have caused widespread power outages in Ukraine, affecting critical infrastructure, while Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil facilities have disrupted refining operations.
Despite diplomatic efforts, the ongoing airstrikes suggest that a lasting peace deal remains uncertain.
Global
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