Trump Brokers Partial Ceasefire With Putin, Sets Up Future Talks

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have brokered a partial ceasefire deal between Ukraine and Russia and agreed to schedule future negotiations for a full ceasefire. 

Presidents Trump and Putin reached the agreement during a highly anticipated phone call between the two leaders. 

“My phone conversation today with President Putin of Russia was a very good and productive one,” said Trump.  

Putin and Trump’s conversation follows Ukraine’s acceptance of a 30-day ceasefire plan proposed by Trump and negotiated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. 

Trump proposed the same ceasefire deal to Russia, which the latter conditionally rejected due to “a number of significant points” regarding Ukraine’s rearmament, restrengthening, and refusal to acquiesce to Russian demands. 

Following Russia’s ceasefire deal rejection, Trump proposed a partial ceasefire plan featuring the cessation of strikes on energy infrastructure between both Ukraine and Russia for 30 days.

According to the Kremlin, Putin “responded favorably to the proposal and immediately gave the relevant order to the Russian troops.”

Moreover, Trump and Putin allegedly pledged to continue discussing a bilateral agreement definitively ending the Ukraine-Russia war. 

Trump claimed he and Putin “will be working quickly to have a Complete Ceasefire and, ultimately, an END to this very horrible War between Russia and Ukraine.” 

Secretary Rubio commended Trump’s efforts, stating “(Trump) is leading the way towards peace.”

Conversely, Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Putin’s rejection of an immediate complete ceasefire. 

“It’s clear to everyone in the world—even to those who refused to acknowledge the truth for the past three years—that it is Putin who continues to drag out this war,” said President Zelenskyy. 

Zelenskyy’s relationship with the US - Ukraine largest single donor - has been shaky as confrontations with the Trump administration have resulted in military and intelligence support freezes.