Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to a proposal from US President Donald Trump to halt attacks on energy infrastructure in Ukraine for 30 days. This was announced early Tuesday evening by Russian government offices after the two presidents spoke on the phone during the afternoon.
Many details are unclear about the proposal, which Putin has agreed to. But according to his press office, the Russian president has immediately given the "relevant" order to the country's military. The halt to attacks on energy facilities must be mutual. This means that Ukraine must not attack Russian facilities either.
If both parties agree to the proposal, it will be a real escalation of the war. During the war, Russia has repeatedly attacked the Ukrainian power grid, while Ukraine has attacked Russian fuel depots and refineries.
Ukraine supports proposal, but lacks information
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj says that he supports the proposal in principle, but he wants to talk to Donald Trump to hear more details about the plan. The president said this in an online briefing with journalists.
- After we get details from the American president - from the American side - we will give our answer, Zelenskyj said, according to the AFP news agency.
While a kind of ceasefire for energy attacks is on the table, Trump and Putin have not agreed on a broader ceasefire, as previously proposed by the United States. In connection with such a ceasefire, Putin, according to the Kremlin, is expressing concern about whether Ukraine will use it for mobilization and rearmament. Any solution to the conflict requires an end to military and intelligence assistance to Ukraine, Russia said.
The White House announced that new negotiations on Ukraine should begin immediately, including a ceasefire in the Black Sea.
- The leaders agreed that the movement towards peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire as well as technical negotiations on the implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, a full ceasefire and permanent peace, the White House wrote in a statement.
- These negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East, the statement said.
The Russian side also reported that Russia and the United States have agreed to establish expert groups to work on reaching an agreement on Ukraine.
Weeks of diplomatic bustle
Tuesday's announcements come after weeks of rapid diplomatic developments on Ukraine. The weeks have been marked by first a quarrel between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, then a US halt to military aid - and then the resumption of aid.
Last week, the US proposed a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia at a meeting with Ukrainian top officials. Ukraine supported that proposal.
Meanwhile, Putin stated that he supported the US proposal in principle, but would continue the fighting until several crucial conditions were agreed upon.
It was in February 2022 that Russia invaded Ukraine. Hundreds of thousands have been killed or injured, millions have been displaced, and entire cities have been reduced to rubble.
/ritzau/Reuters
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