A highly anticipated phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday has concluded, with hopes now pinned on a possible ceasefire in the three-year war between Ukraine and Russia.
Earlier on Tuesday, the White House said the call, which lasted over an hour and a half, was “going well”. This was followed by a post on X by Putin’s envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, who stated that “Under the leadership of President Putin and President Trump, the world has become a much safer place today! Historic! Epic!”.
“Today, President Trump and President Putin spoke about the need for peace and a ceasefire in the Ukraine war. Both leaders agreed this conflict needs to end with a lasting peace. They also stressed the need for improved bilateral relations between the United States and Russia,” read a statement released by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
An improved bilateral relationship between the United States and Russia “has huge upside”, it said, which includes enormous economic deals and geopolitical stability when peace has been achieved.
FILE PHOTO: Artist Alexei Sergienko walks towards his painting “Peace to the world” showing a combination of faces of Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, at the Sergienko gallery in Saint Petersburg, Russia March 17, 2025. Photo: Reuters/Anton Vaganov
According to the statement, Trump and Putin agreed that the movement to peace would begin with “an energy and infrastructure ceasefire”, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace.
These negotiations, the statement said, will begin immediately in the Middle East. The two leaders also spoke about the Middle East as a region of potential cooperation to prevent future conflicts and the need to stop proliferation of strategic weapons.
The White House stated earlier on Tuesday that a peace agreement “has never been closer.”
Ukraine has already agreed in principle to an immediate 30-day truce proposed by the U.S.
On Monday, just hours before the call, President Trump said significant progress had already been made, adding that discussions would also focus on “dividing up certain assets and power plants,” most of which are located in Ukrainian territory.
The Trump-Putin phone call came against the backdrop of escalating violence in the Middle East. Hours before the call, Israel launched dozens of military strikes on the Gaza Strip, resulting in at least 404 deaths.
