Putin, Trump agree to 30-day halt on energy strikes amid peace talks push

New Delhi, Mar 18: Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to a 30-day halt on strikes targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure following a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, the Kremlin announced as reported by International media. The two leaders also endorsed the immediate commencement of fresh peace talks in the Middle East or West Asia (Saudi Arabia) according to the White House.

“The leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire,” the White House confirmed in a statement following the conversation. The Kremlin’s readout of the call described a “frank exchange of opinions” between the two presidents, with both sides agreeing to maintain communication.

The White House’s official statement emphasized that the energy ceasefire was seen as a vital first step towards lasting peace. “Both leaders agreed this conflict needs to end with a lasting peace,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in a post on X. “The blood and treasure that both Ukraine and Russia have been spending in this war would be better spent on the needs of their people. This conflict should never have started and should have been ended long ago with sincere and good faith peace efforts.”

In addition to the temporary ceasefire, Trump and Putin agreed to initiate technical negotiations on implementing a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, with the goal of achieving a broader ceasefire and establishing permanent peace. “These negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East,” the White House readout added.

The Kremlin acknowledged Putin’s support for Trump’s proposed 30-day cessation of attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the country’s energy infrastructure has been repeatedly targeted, severely impacting civilian life and economic stability.

The two leaders also discussed other pressing geopolitical issues, including the proliferation of strategic weapons and escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. “The two leaders agreed that a future with an improved bilateral relationship between the United States and Russia has huge upside,” the White House statement continued. “This includes enormous economic deals and geopolitical stability when peace has been achieved.”

The nearly two-hour call, described as “going well” by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, began around 8:30 pm Indian Standard Time. It marked the second known phone conversation between the two leaders since Trump’s return to office in January 2025. Political analysts have interpreted the talks as part of sustained diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.