Russia launched drone attacks against Ukraine overnight, hitting a hospital and energy facilities, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday, hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin allegedly agreed to a limited ceasefire on energy targets and infrastructure in a phone call with President Donald Trump Tuesday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during the plenary session of Russia Union of Industrialists ... [+]
Zelenskyy said “there were 150 drones launched overnight, including on energy facilities,” while the Russian Defense Ministry said Kyiv attacked an energy facility near the Crimean Peninsula and used drones to target oil transfer equipment, the Associated Press reported.
The attacks come after both the White House and the Kremlin said Putin agreed in his call with Trump Tuesday to a 30-day energy and infrastructure ceasefire.
Zelenskyy, who agreed earlier this month to a full 30-day ceasefire in talks with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia, expressed “skepticism” about Putin’s commitment to the deal in a news conference later Tuesday, but said “if there is a partial ceasefire, this is a positive result.”
Russia said Putin told Trump a “key condition for preventing the escalation of the conflict” included the U.S. resuming its pause on military aid and the sharing of intelligence information with Ukraine, according to the Kremlin, though Trump denied later Tuesday in an interview with Fox News that aid to Ukraine was discussed.
Under the deal, Ukraine and Russia would also swap 175 prisoners from each side on March 19, and Russia would transfer 23 seriously wounded Ukrainian soldiers back to Kyiv, the Kremlin said.
Trump described the conversation as “a very good and productive one” in a Truth Social post, repeating his claim that “this War would have never started if I were President!” He said “many elements of a Contract for Peace were discussed” and the process for a permanent end to the war is “now in full force and effect.”
The White House said Trump and Putin agreed that negotiations for a full ceasefire will begin “immediately” in the Middle East, with a possible phased in approach that includes a “maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea.” Trump and Putin also “stressed the need for improved bilateral relations between the United States and Russia,” that could lead to “enormous economic deals and geopolitical stability,” according to the White House summary.
It’s unclear whether Trump and Putin discussed land and power plants seized during the war, a major factor in any permanent end to the conflict. Trump told reporters Sunday he would discuss “dividing up certain assets,” including land and power plants, with Putin, expressing confidence that “we can bring that war to an end.”
Trump and Putin spoke for more than two hours Tuesday, their second call of Trump’s second term, as the White House seeks to negotiate a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine. The call comes after Ukraine agreed to a ceasefire earlier this month during talks with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia. White House special envoy Steve Witkoff also met with Putin last week in Moscow and told CNN on Sunday “we’re bridging the gap between” Ukraine and Russia. Putin suggested last week he needed some concessions before agreeing to a ceasefire, including addressing the “root causes” of the war, which include the annexation of the Crimea and Ukraine’s desire to join NATO. Putin has also raised concerns about escalated violence in Russia’s Kursk region, a portion of which was occupied by Ukrainian forces last year.
Putin Suggests Concessions Needed Before Agreeing To Ceasefire (Forbes)
Ukraine Ceasefire Talks: Trump Envoy Flies To Moscow As Russian Offensive Continues (Forbes)
Russia ‘Examining’ 30-Day Ukraine Ceasefire Plan Backed By Trump Administration (Forbes)