Putin halts energy attacks after Trump call, rejects full ceasefire
Russian President Vladimir Putin has refused to commit to a full ceasefire in Ukraine but agreed to halt attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure after a call with U.S. President Donald Trump. The Kremlin’s decision follows recent peace negotiations led by U.S. officials, but Putin insisted that a broader ceasefire would only be possible if Western military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine ceased—conditions that Kyiv’s European allies have previously rejected.
The U.S. and Russia agreed to continue negotiations, with discussions set to resume in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday. While the Trump administration had brokered a proposal with Ukraine for a month-long ceasefire covering land, air, and sea, Putin did not accept the terms. Instead, he proposed a step-by-step approach, beginning with a halt to strikes on critical infrastructure.
Following the call, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was on an official visit to Finland, said he was open to a limited ceasefire covering energy sites but demanded further details. However, he later accused Putin of rejecting a broader truce, citing a wave of Russian drone attacks that targeted a hospital in Sumy and power supplies in Slovyansk. Zelensky stated on social media that “Putin effectively rejected the proposal for a full ceasefire.”
Trump described his conversation with Putin as “very good and productive,” stating on Truth Social that they had discussed “many elements of a Contract for Peace.” He confirmed that both leaders agreed on an immediate halt to attacks on energy and infrastructure while working toward a complete ceasefire and an end to the war. However, the White House’s statement on the call omitted any mention of the U.S.-Ukraine ceasefire deal that Kyiv had already accepted.
Meanwhile, hostilities continued. Ukrainian officials reported that Russia launched over 40 drones against Ukraine hours after Putin’s pledge to halt energy strikes. In response, Russia accused Ukraine of carrying out drone attacks on an oil depot in Krasnodar and a ground assault on the Russian border region of Belgorod, which Moscow claimed had been repelled.
Despite U.S. efforts to push for a comprehensive ceasefire, Putin has maintained that Russia must retain control over occupied Ukrainian territories and has demanded an end to Western sanctions as part of any peace settlement. His stance reflects a strategic effort to extract further concessions from the West while delaying negotiations.
The call between Trump and Putin comes as Washington reassesses its military support for Ukraine. Earlier this month, the U.S. temporarily suspended aid after a tense Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelensky, during which Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance criticized the Ukrainian leader for what they described as a lack of gratitude.
International reactions to the limited ceasefire plan were mixed. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called it an “important first step” but reiterated the need for a full ceasefire. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer reaffirmed Britain’s “unwavering support” for Ukraine in a call with Zelensky after the Trump-Putin discussion.
Source: BBC
