Photo: VCG

 
US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed in a phone call on Tuesday that the peace in Ukraine "will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire."

They spoke about the need for peace and a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Both leaders agreed this conflict needs to end with a lasting peace. They also stressed the need for improved bilateral relations between the US and Russia, the White House said in a statement.

Meanwhile, they agreed to "immediately" launch technical negotiations on the implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, as well as on the full ceasefire and permanent peace in Ukraine, according to the White House. 

It is not immediately clear how Ukraine will respond to the limited ceasefire plan. Kiev has said it is ready to accept the 30-day truce proposed by Trump, but the White House did not suggest that Putin had agreed to sign off on it, Xinhua reported.

The White House also didn't mention if Putin, during the talk, demanded the suspension of foreign military aid to Ukraine during the ceasefire, nor issues on land concessions and the future of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, the largest nuclear facility in Europe, according to Xinhua.

Putin "immediately gave the Russian military the appropriate command" in response to Trump's proposal for Russia and Ukraine to mutually stop striking energy infrastructures, the Kremlin's press service said after the phone call, according to Xinhua.

"A future with an improved bilateral relationship between the United States and Russia has huge upside. This includes enormous economic deals and geopolitical stability when peace has been achieved," said the White House statement.

Regarding Iran and the Middle East, the White House said "the two leaders shared the view that Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel," while discussing US-Russia "potential cooperation" in the Middle East to prevent future conflicts in the region.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated UK's "unwavering support" for Ukraine in a phone talk with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday evening, according to a Downing Street statement.

"The prime minister spoke to President Zelensky this evening. They discussed progress (US) President Trump had made towards a ceasefire in talks with Russia," the statement said.

"President Zelensky updated on the situation on the frontline and the prime minister reiterated UK's unwavering support," the statement noted.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed on Tuesday that any peace negotiations regarding the conflict in Ukraine must fully involve the Ukrainian government.

Referring to a phone call between Trump and Putin regarding a ceasefire in the energy and infrastructure sectors, Scholz described it as "a first important step" but stressed the need for a full ceasefire as soon as possible, according to Xinhua.

French President Macron echoed this sentiment, affirming Europe's continued support for Ukraine to ensure a stable and lasting resolution. He welcomed the Trump-Putin discussions as "moving in the right direction," Xinhua reported.

President Zelensky told reporters he hopes to learn details of the phone conversation between US President Trump and Russian President Putin from the US leader, TASS reported.

Talks on a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict will continue on Sunday in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff said Tuesday, according to AFP.

Global Times