President Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin made the highly anticipated call on Tuesday after Ukraine agreed to the proposed 30-day ceasefire in the US last week.
Putin rejected the proposal on Tuesday, according to a read of the Kremlin's call, but actively responded to Trump's proposal that there was limited 30-day ceasefire at energy facilities on both sides of the conflict.
“We agreed to an immediate ceasefire of all energy and infrastructure, and understood that we would be working on a full ceasefire quickly, and ultimately ending this extremely horrifying war between Russia and Ukraine,” Trump said Tuesday afternoon.
Putin also set out several urgent requests for broader peace negotiations, including “a complete suspension of foreign military aid and the provision of intelligence news information,” according to Moscow's reading.
However, neither reads mentioned the demand for Ukraine to give its territory to Russia.
In its readout, the US said negotiations on a wider ceasefire and peace agreements would begin immediately in the Middle East.
Here are some important close-up shots from Cole.
Putin refuses a 30-day ceasefire
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it was time to show Putin is serious about peace after securing Ukraine's support for a 30-day ceasefire in talks last week.
According to a Kremlin reading, the Russian leader has expressed various concerns about the proposal.
“In the context of the US President's initiative to introduce a 30-day ceasefire, the Russian side has outlined many key points regarding the need to ensure an effective ceasefire against a possible ceasefire along the entire combat contact, stop forced mobilization in Ukraine and keep Ukrainian troops,” he said.
“The serious risks related to the inability to negotiate the Kyiv administration repeatedly blocking the agreement reached and violating it has also been noted.”
Trump, Putin regains a more limited ceasefire
Instead, Trump proposed a more limited ceasefire over energy facilities. This was supported by Putin and proposed an agreement to continue negotiations on other aspects of the war.
“Leaders agreed that the move towards peace begins with energy and infrastructure ceasefires, technical negotiations on the implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, a complete ceasefire and permanent peace,” the US reads said.
Russia said the idea came from Trump. It is unclear whether Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky is on board.
“In the conversation, Donald Trump proposed the proposals of the parties to the conflict and submitted a proposal for the conflict to refrain from attacking energy infrastructure facilities for 30 days. Vladimir Putin was proactive in responding to the initiative and immediately gave orders to respond to the Russian army.”
Ukraine's energy infrastructure was the focus of Russia's air attacks. Ukraine's attack capabilities within Russia increased during the war, with Ukrainian drones attacking the fuel facility of Russia's Astrakan Oblast on Monday.
Putin demands that US support for Ukraine end
The Russian side said the “important condition” of the solution to stop the war is our end and European support for Ukraine.
“It was emphasized that the key conditions for preventing conflict escalation and working towards its resolution by political and diplomatic means would be a complete suspension of foreign military aid and the provision of information to Kyiv,” the reading said.
The US temporarily suspended its support for the military and intelligence news for Ukraine earlier this month, but it recovered after talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where Ukrainians supported the US ceasefire proposal.
Ending foreign military aid to Ukraine during a ceasefire allows Russia to virtually sprint during the ceasefire, while coordinating Ukraine's military accumulation.
One of the main fixed points of a ceasefire is how it will be implemented and whether European troops will play a role in maintaining peace.
Mutual interest in future economic cooperation
Both Putin and Trump expressed optimism about potential economic cooperation between the countries if peace was achieved.
“The two leaders agreed that there are great benefits to the future of improving bilateral relations between the US and Russia, including the enormous economic transaction and geopolitical stability when peace is achieved,” the US read said.
The Russian summaries of the call were pointed out as “mutually interest in normalizing bilateral relations.”
“In this context, a wide range of areas where our countries can establish cooperation were considered. Many ideas were discussed moving towards the development of mutually beneficial cooperation in the economy and energy sectors,” he said.
Trump could threaten to punish sanctions against Russia if he repeatedly provided economic cooperation as a carrot, refusing to stop the war in Ukraine.
There will be more stories going forward
Both sides said more talks will soon be coming between Russia and the US.
This includes discussions towards an agreement to restore the safety of voyages in the Black Sea and a more comprehensive purpose of hostilities.
“The leaders have confirmed their intention to continue their efforts to achieve a Ukrainian settlement in bilateral mode, taking into account the above proposals of the US President. For this purpose, a group of Russian and American experts has been created.
“These negotiations will begin soon in the Middle East,” the US read said.
The statement suggests that the US will continue its two-track diplomacy and travel between Moscow and Kiev.
After the US Ukraine spoke last week, Trump sent his special envoy, Steve Witkov, to talks with Putin.
It is unclear how the next stage of meeting will take place with Ukraine. Trump revised his title this week for retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg. Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg is currently his special envoy to Ukraine and will not play a role on the Russian talks side.
