Vladimir Putin has agreed to an immediate 30-day pause in strikes on energy infrastructure in Ukraine during a lengthy phone call with Donald Trump.
The Russian and US presidents spoke for around an hour and a half as the Trump administration aims to bring about an end to the conflict which started after Moscow’s forces carried out a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Mr Putin agreed to the limited ceasefire but stopped short of backing a broader 30-day pause in fighting that the White House is pushing for.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after the call that he supports the US proposal to stop Kyiv’s strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.
Mr Zelenskyy added that the hopes to speak to Mr Trump to find out “what the Russians offered the Americans or what the Americans offered the Russians” during his conversation with Mr Putin.
He also said that future talks about Ukraine without Kyiv at the table will not bring results.
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What Sky’s correspondents think about the Trump-Putin phone call
During talks led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Saudi Arabia last week, Ukrainian officials agreed to the US proposal for a 30-day pause in fighting.
However, Mr Putin said during his call with Mr Trump on Tuesday that any long-term deal would require a complete halt to intelligence sharing and military aid to Ukraine from its allies.
Mr Zelenskky said in an online briefing after the call that Ukraine’s partners would never agree to such a move and that he hopes supplies will continue.
He added that Moscow’s demand was simply an example of Mr Putin attempting to weaken Ukraine.
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US correspondent
The outcome of this call will allow both side to claim a win.
For President Trump, he can and will claim that he has secured a phased ceasefire – an air and sea ceasefire.
He will claim, correctly, that he has moved the dial closer to peace (at least in the short term) in this long conflict.
For President Putin, he has accepted a partial ceasefire (energy and infrastructure facilities will not be targeted) but he can still continue his war along the frontline.
He wants to do this because he believes he has the upper hand and can continue the battlefield conflict to push the frontline as far west as he can.
This is a war all about territory. Russia wants to have control of as much land as possible before it signs any full ceasefire plan.
US hopes call marks first step towards peace
The White House has said Mr Trump and Mr Putin agreed to a “movement to peace” it hopes will eventually include a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea and a full and lasting end to the fighting.
“These negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East,” the White House added.
Mr Putin welcomed Mr Trump’s calls for the maritime ceasefire and “agreed to begin negotiations to further work out specific details of such an agreement”, according to the Kremlin.
Ukrainian officials had earlier proposed a ceasefire covering the Black Sea and long-range missile strikes and the release of prisoners at their meeting with the US delegation in Saudi Arabia earlier this month.
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What Sky’s correspondents think about Trump-Putin call
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Prisoner swaps and hockey matches
The Kremlin also said after the call that Russia and Ukraine will exchange 175 prisoners of war each on Wednesday.
Moscow added that it will also hand over 23 badly wounded soldiers to Ukraine.
Mr Zelenskyy responded by saying Russia could show it was serious about peace talks by freeing all prisoners.
Meanwhile, Moscow said in its recap of the call that Mr Trump supported an idea from Mr Putin to organise ice hockey matches in the US between professional players from America and Russia.
The White House’s account of the conversation did not mention hockey.
Shortly after the call, Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “We agreed to an immediate Ceasefire on all Energy and Infrastructure, with an understanding that we will be working quickly to have a Complete Ceasefire and, ultimately, an END to this very horrible War between Russia and Ukraine.”
Mr Zelenskyy remains sceptical that Mr Putin is ready for peace as Russian forces continue to pound Ukraine.
Mr Putin last week said he agreed in principle with the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, but emphasised that Russia would seek guarantees that Ukraine would not use a break in hostilities to rearm and continue mobilisation.
He has also demanded that Ukraine renounce joining the NATO military alliance, sharply cut its army, and protect Russian language and culture to keep the country in Moscow’s orbit.
Fears Washington favours Moscow
The call between Mr Trump and Mr Putin is just the latest turn in a dramatically shifting relationship between the two superpowers.
Mr Trump made bringing about a quick end to the conflict a top priority when he took office in January – straining ties with allies who want Mr Putin to pay a price for the invasion.
Mr Trump, who has long shown admiration for Mr Putin, has blamed Ukraine for Russia’s unprovoked invasion.
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European countries have continued to show support for Ukraine as Mr Trump has appeared to favour Moscow as he aims to secure an end to the war.
Mr Zelenskyy said he spoke to German leader Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron following Tuesday’s call between the US and Russian presidents.
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Meanwhile, a Downing Street spokeswoman said: “We welcome the progress President Trump has made towards a ceasefire and in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
“This process must lead to a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes to ensure Russia can never launch an illegal invasion again.”
Shortly after the call, air raid alerts sounded in Kyiv which were followed by explosions in the city.
It comes after the AES Group private oil refinery was badly damaged after a shock Russian attack in the Kharkiv region on Monday.
The AES Group confirmed the destruction of the facility in Merefa after about 20 drones were launched at it.
