Putin agrees to mutual suspension of strikes on energy infrastructure but insists on complete cessation of military and intelligence aid to Kyiv for progress toward peace deal

Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump spoke on the telephone for more than an hour and a half on Tuesday, March 18. According to the Kremlin’s readout, shared on Telegram, the Russian and American leaders “continued a detailed and candid exchange of views on the situation surrounding Ukraine,” with Putin thanking Trump “for his efforts to contribute to the noble goal of ending hostilities and preventing further loss of life.” Moscow repeated that any settlement must address “the root causes of the crisis” and “Russia’s legitimate security interests” in Ukraine. The most immediate result of the conversation appears to be Putin’s agreement to a “mutual 30-day suspension of strikes on energy infrastructure.”

The Kremlin’s readout says the following about the U.S.-Ukrainian proposal for a 30-day ceasefire:

In the Kursk region, Putin pledged to “act on humanitarian considerations and guarantees that any Ukrainian soldiers who surrender will be treated in accordance with Russian law and international legal norms.” 

The Russian president also told his American counterpart that a “key condition for preventing further escalation” and reaching a political and diplomatic resolution in Ukraine “must be the complete cessation of foreign military aid and intelligence support to Kyiv.”

Russian and American negotiators will begin developing an agreement “concerning the security of maritime navigation in the Black Sea,” while Russian and American “expert groups” form and reinforce bilateral channels between the two nations.

Putin also announced another prisoner exchange with Ukraine scheduled for March 19, with 175 individuals from each side to be traded. “As a goodwill gesture,” Russia will also transfer an additional 23 severely wounded Ukrainian servicemen who are currently receiving medical treatment in Russian hospitals.

Besides Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Putin and Trump discussed unrest in the Middle East, nuclear nonproliferation, “mutual interest in normalizing bilateral relations,” and even the possibility of staging hockey games in the U.S. and Russia between Russian and American players from the NHL and KHL.

In a post on X, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reported: “The leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on [the] implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace.” These negotiations will take place in the Middle East.