Putin announces 30-day halt to strikes on Ukraine after talks with Trump

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday ordered a 30-day halt to strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure following a call with United States President Donald Trump, according to a statement from the Kremlin.

The decision came as part of ongoing discussions aimed at reducing tensions in the ongoing conflict.

The Kremlin said the two leaders had a “detailed and frank exchange of views”.

However, Putin outlined several conditions for any further progress, including “the need to halt both forced mobilisation in Ukraine and the rearmament of the Ukrainian armed forces,” the Kremlin said as reported by AFP.

He also raised concerns about how any ceasefire could be effectively monitored.

“Trump proposed a 30-day halt on strikes on energy targets and “Vladimir Putin responded positively and immediately gave the Russian military a corresponding command”, the statement added.

In addition to the halt in energy strikes, the two leaders agreed to a prisoner swap, with Russia and Ukraine set to exchange 175 prisoners each.

Putin also emphasised that the conflict could only be resolved in the long term if Western countries ceased providing military and intelligence support to Ukraine.

The Kremlin further clarified that the cessation of foreign aid to Kyiv was a key condition for preventing escalation and achieving a political and diplomatic resolution to the war.

“The key condition for preventing an escalation of the conflict and working towards its resolution through political and diplomatic means should be a complete cessation of foreign military assistance and the provision of intelligence to Kyiv,” the Kremlin said.

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