Trump, Putin agree to begin ceasefire negotiations in Middle East, White House says

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin engaged in a 90-minute discussion on Tuesday about efforts to bring the war in Ukraine to an end, according to the White House. Both leaders agreed that peace negotiations would begin immediately in the Middle East.

A ceasefire targeting energy infrastructure was also agreed upon by both parties. Trump characterized the conversation as "very good and productive" in a post on Truth Social.

"Many aspects of a Peace Agreement were discussed, including the heavy toll of casualties on both sides. Both President Putin and President Zelenskyy want to see this conflict end," Trump wrote. "The process is now in motion, and hopefully, for the sake of humanity, we will succeed!"

White House spokesman Dan Scavino noted that the call commenced at 10 a.m. ET. The White House later confirmed at approximately 12:52 p.m. that the call had concluded but did not specify the exact timing of each side disconnecting.

Following the conversation, the White House released a statement emphasizing the need for peace and a ceasefire. "Today, President Trump and President Putin discussed the urgency of ending the war in Ukraine with a lasting peace," the statement read. "Both leaders underscored the importance of improving U.S.-Russia relations. The resources being consumed in this war would be better allocated toward the well-being of the people of both nations."

The White House further stated, "This war should have been avoided and should have concluded long ago with sincere peace efforts. The first step toward resolution will involve a ceasefire on energy and infrastructure targets, as well as discussions on a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, leading to a full cessation of hostilities and a permanent peace agreement. These talks will commence immediately in the Middle East."

Beyond Ukraine, the two leaders also addressed broader Middle Eastern dynamics, highlighting the region as an area of potential collaboration to prevent further conflicts. Additionally, they discussed the necessity of curbing the proliferation of strategic weapons. Both Trump and Putin agreed that Iran must never be in a position to threaten Israel.

The Kremlin, as reported by Russia’s state-run TASS news agency, stated that Putin insisted on halting all military aid to Ukraine as a condition for ending the war. Additionally, Putin reportedly accepted Trump's proposal for a mutual 30-day pause on strikes against energy facilities and has instructed the Russian military accordingly. As a goodwill gesture, Russia will repatriate 23 severely wounded Ukrainian soldiers to Kyiv.

Trump noted that while many components of a final agreement had been settled, significant details still required negotiation. Meanwhile, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce indicated on Monday that the U.S. was waiting for Russia's response to a proposed ceasefire, which Ukraine had already endorsed the previous week.

The U.S.-backed ceasefire plan, featuring an immediate 30-day cessation of hostilities and a guaranteed resumption of U.S. military and intelligence support for Ukraine, was finalized during diplomatic meetings in Saudi Arabia.

The last recorded conversation between Trump and Putin took place in mid-February. At that time, Trump described their discussion as "lengthy and highly productive," covering a wide range of topics including Ukraine, the Middle East, energy, artificial intelligence, and global economic issues.

Reflecting on the historical ties between the U.S. and Russia, Trump remarked, "We recalled our nations' shared history, particularly our successful alliance during World War II, when Russia suffered immense losses, and we too sacrificed greatly."

He added, "We both acknowledged the strength of our respective nations and the tremendous potential for future cooperation. However, as we agreed, the immediate priority is to end the devastating loss of life in the Russia-Ukraine war."

This article was reported by journalist Angelia.