The White House said United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have reached an agreement to achieve peace in the Russia-Ukraine war.
During a lengthy call, the two leaders agreed to a mutual pause on energy infrastructure attacks. This however did not include a commitment to the 30-day truce Ukraine accepted last week.
U.S. Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt said that both leaders agreed the conflict needs to end with a lasting peace. They will continue to strengthen their relationship.
“The leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, a full ceasefire and permanent peace,” Leavitt said in a readout.
“The two leaders agreed that a future with an improved bilateral relationship between the United States and Russia has huge upside.
“This includes enormous economic deals and geopolitical stability when peace has been achieved.”
Trump took to his social platform, Truth Social to celebrate the deal. He said his conversation with Putin was productive towards their shared goal of peace.
“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 said.
“That process is now in full force and effect, and we will, hopefully, for the sake of Humanity, get the job done!”
Despite Trump celebrating the deal as a victory, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met the deal with scepticism. However, he said that "if there is a partial ceasefire, this is a positive result."
“We have always supported the ceasefire position and not to use any weapons against the energy infrastructure, and also we have supported the position of not to attack the naval corridors,” he told ABC News.
“There's two parties in this war, Russia and Ukraine, so without Ukraine I think many negotiations without Ukraine would not result in any help."
The Kremlin said while Putin has agreed to a ceasefire on energy infrastructure, he believes there are a “number of significant issues related to ensuring effective control over a possible ceasefire along the entire line of contact, the need to stop forced mobilisation in Ukraine and the rearmament of the Armed Forces of Ukraine”.
The Kremlin said Putin believed a condition for ending the war should include a "complete cessation" of foreign military and intelligence assistance to Kyiv.
