Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to a partial ceasefire against Russian energy targets in a phone call with President Donald Trump Wednesday, the White House said, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin said he also agreed to a limited halt.
President Donald Trump (R) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office at the ... [+]
Negotiators are expected to meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to discuss “broadening the ceasefire to the Black Sea on the way to a full ceasefire,” according to a statement from National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.
Trump and Zelenskyy held the call after the White House and the Kremlin said Putin agreed in a call with Trump a day earlier to stop targeting Ukrainian energy sources and infrastructure for 30 days.
Both Russia and Ukraine accused each other of continuing attacks after the Putin phone call, however—Zelenskyy said Wednesday Russia launched drone and missile attacks against Ukraine that hit a hospital and energy facilities, while Russia said Ukraine used drones to attack an oil facility near the Crimean Peninsula.
Trump said on Truth Social earlier Wednesday he had a “very good telephone call” with Zelenskyy, largely focusing on “the call made yesterday with President Putin in order to align both Russia and Ukraine in terms of their requests and needs,” adding “we are very much on track.”
Trump also suggested to Zelenskyy that “American ownership” of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants “would be the best protection for that infrastructure and support for Ukrainian infrastructure,” according to Waltz’s statement. In addition, Zelenskyy asked Trump for additional air defense systems and Trump told him he would assess “what was available particularly in Europe,” the White House said.
Putin and Trump spoke for more than two hours Tuesday in a highly anticipated call that comes after Ukraine agreed to a full ceasefire earlier this month in negotiations with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia. Putin stopped short of agreeing to a complete stop to the fighting and reiterated his desire for the U.S. to cut off military aid to Ukraine, according to the Kremlin’s description of the call. Zelenskyy expressed “skepticism” that Russia would adhere to the terms of a ceasefire in a statement Tuesday, but said a partial ceasefire was a “positive” result.
Ukraine, Russia Continue Attacks—Despite Limited Ceasefire Offer (Forbes)