Elena Teslova
18 March 2025•Update: 19 March 2025
MOSCOW
In a 2 1/2-hour phone call, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump discussed normalizing bilateral ties, prospects for settling the Ukraine conflict, and the situation in the Middle East, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.
The leaders continued their "detailed and frank exchange of views on the situation in Ukraine," with Putin thanking Trump for his willingness to help end the hostilities and reduce human suffering, the Kremlin said in a statement.
Putin reaffirmed his commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict and expressed his readiness to work with American partners to thoroughly explore possible solutions.
He stressed that any resolution should be "comprehensive, sustainable, and long-term," addressing "the root causes of the crisis."
In response to Trump’s proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, Putin raised concerns about ensuring effective control along the entire contact line and stressed the need to halt mobilization in Ukraine and prevent Ukrainian forces from rearming during this period.
Putin expressed doubts that Ukraine would fulfill its obligations, citing previous instances when he said it had "sabotaged and violated agreements."
The Kremlin also highlighted the "barbaric terrorist crimes" committed by Ukrainian militants against civilians in Kursk, an area of Russia that Ukrainian forces entered last August.
Putin outlined the cessation of foreign arms supplies and intelligence aid to Ukraine as a key condition for preventing further escalation and achieving a peaceful resolution through political and diplomatic efforts.
- 30-day moratorium on attacking energy infrastructure
In response to Trump’s appeal to save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers surrounded in the Kursk region, Putin promised to ensure their safety if they surrender.
Putin also agreed to Trump’s proposal for a 30-day moratorium on strikes on energy infrastructure, saying he immediately instructed the Russian military to do so.
Additionally, Putin responded positively to Trump’s idea to implement "a well-known initiative" concerning navigation safety in the Black Sea. They agreed to initiate negotiations to elaborate specific details of such an agreement.
Putin also told Trump that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to another prisoner exchange on Tuesday, with 175 servicemen to be exchanged from each side.
A special Russian and American expert group is being formed to assist efforts for peace in Ukraine, the Kremlin said.
The two leaders also discussed the situation in the Middle East and the Red Sea region, pledging joint efforts to stabilize the situation in these crisis-stricken areas.
In addition, Putin and Trump expressed mutual interest in normalizing bilateral relations and considered a broad range of areas for potential cooperation.
In this context, Trump supported Putin’s suggestion to organize hockey matches between Russian and American players in both countries.
