30-day halt on energy facility strikes, no full Ukraine ceasefire: What Putin agreed to in call with Trump

Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed Tuesday to a temporary 30-day halt on attacks targeting Ukrainian energy facilities following a lengthy phone call with US President Donald Trump, though he stopped short of endorsing a full ceasefire that Trump had pushed as a step toward ending the war in Ukraine.

Under the limited deal, both Russia and Ukraine will refrain from striking each other’s energy infrastructure for one month.

The White House hailed the agreement as a “movement to peace,” announcing that immediate talks would begin on a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea and a broader peace deal.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed support for the proposal but criticised Putin’s rejection of a broader truce, accusing him of seeking to prolong the conflict.

“Today, Putin de facto rejected the proposal for a complete ceasefire,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram. “It would be right for the world to reject in response any attempts by Putin to drag out the war.”

The Kremlin confirmed Putin ordered a halt to attacks on Ukrainian energy sites but raised concerns that a wider ceasefire could allow Kyiv to rearm and mobilise additional forces.

Putin reiterated his demand that any resolution include an end to Western military and intelligence support for Ukraine—a condition Trump told Fox News did not come up in their discussion.

The call, which Trump described as “great” and lasting nearly two hours, also paved the way for a prisoner exchange set for Wednesday.

Russia and Ukraine will swap 175 prisoners of war each, and Moscow will additionally hand over 23 severely wounded Ukrainian soldiers, according to the Kremlin.

Trump envoy Steve Witkoff said negotiations for a maritime ceasefire and a permanent peace deal would begin Sunday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

“Up until recently, we really didn’t have consensus around these two aspects—the energy and infrastructure ceasefire and the Black Sea moratorium on firing—and today we got to that place,” Witkoff told Fox News’ “Hannity.”

He added that a full ceasefire could be within reach.

The war, sparked by Russia’s 2022 invasion, has devastated Ukraine, killing or wounding hundreds of thousands and displacing millions. Kyiv has retaliated with drone and missile strikes on Russian energy facilities, aiming to disrupt Moscow’s economy. Tuesday’s agreement offers a temporary reprieve, though Zelenskyy reported Russian drones hit a hospital in Sumy and areas near Kyiv that night.

Trump, who has had a strained relationship with Zelenskiy, framed the call as a success.

“Many elements of a Contract for Peace were discussed, including the fact that thousands of soldiers are being killed, and both President Putin and President Zelenskyy would like to see it end,” he posted on social media.

He has hinted that a final deal might involve Ukrainian territorial concessions and control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.