Russia and Ukraine are engaging in a blame game regarding ongoing air assaults on civilian sites in Ukraine’s Sumy and Donetsk regions, as well as on energy infrastructure in Russia’s Krasnodar. This comes in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s agreement to a 30-day cessation of attacks on energy targets in Ukraine, a decision made after a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
Will this pause in energy strikes mark the beginning of peace in Ukraine, or is it simply a tactic to buy time and prolong the conflict? Here’s what we know so far.
What did Trump and Putin agree to? What did they not agree to?
During a lengthy phone conversation about the ongoing war in Ukraine, Trump and Putin reached an agreement.
Post-call, the White House and Kremlin confirmed that both leaders had settled on a 30-day suspension of attacks on energy infrastructure in both Russia and Ukraine.
However, Putin did not commit to halting missile, drone, and bombing attacks in the Black Sea or along the frontline. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accepted Trump’s 30-day ceasefire proposal on March 11.
Russia and the U.S. have expressed intentions to discuss the terms for a ceasefire in the Black Sea.
Differences in the summary of the call between the White House and the Kremlin have led to confusion among analysts and observers. Notably, the Kremlin included several demands in its statement, which the White House did not acknowledge.
“A lot remains unclear due to the discrepancies between the White House and Kremlin’s accounts of the call,” commented Keir Giles, a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House in London, speaking to Al Jazeera.
“Currently, the prospect of peace appears more distant due to Russia’s additional conditions,” he added.
What did the White House say?
The White House release was considerably shorter than its Kremlin counterpart and did not detail the conditions set forth by Putin for a full ceasefire. Key points included:
- Both Trump and Putin acknowledged the necessity to end the conflict and establish lasting peace. As stated, “The blood and treasure that both Ukraine and Russia have been spending in this war would be better spent on the needs of their people.”
- The U.S. and Russia will pursue an enhanced bilateral relationship.
- The journey towards peace will start with a moratorium on targeting energy infrastructure, while technical negotiations will commence immediately in the Middle East regarding maritime peace in the Black Sea and an overarching ceasefire and permanent resolution. Specific locations for these discussions were not disclosed; however, in February and March, U.S. mediators met separately with representatives from Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia.
- The two leaders addressed cooperation in the Middle East to avert future conflicts and concurred that “Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel.”
What did the Kremlin say?
The Kremlin’s statement detailed a series of conditions that must be met before advancing toward a ceasefire across the Russia-Ukraine front line, including:
- Putin expressed appreciation to Trump for his efforts to facilitate an end to the war. Both nations will enhance their bilateral relations.
- Putin has agreed to Trump’s call for a 30-day suspension of energy infrastructure attacks, instructing the Russian military to comply immediately.
- The Russian president underscored a fundamental commitment to reaching a peaceful resolution in coordination with U.S. partners, targeting a long-term and sustainable approach. Expert groups from both Russia and the U.S. are being formed to negotiate terms for a settlement in Ukraine.
- Moscow voiced concerns about the rearmament of Ukrainian forces and alleged “forced mobilization,” referring to reports of Ukrainian men being conscripted into the military under duress.
- The statement accused the Ukrainian army of committing “barbaric terrorist crimes” against civilians in Kursk.
- A pivotal condition for conflict resolution is the “complete cessation” of foreign military assistance and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, although it does not clarify whether this pertains only to U.S. aid or includes other Ukrainian allies as well.
- Responding to Trump’s request to protect the lives of Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk, Putin stated that Russia is prepared to ensure the safety and humane treatment of Ukrainian troops if they surrender, in accordance with Russian and international law.
- Negotiations between the U.S. and Russia will be initiated to determine details for a ceasefire in the Black Sea, with no mention of including Ukraine or other European nations.
- A prisoner exchange is scheduled for Wednesday, with 175 Russians and 175 Ukrainians to be exchanged. Additionally, 23 injured Ukrainian servicemen currently receiving treatment in Russian medical facilities will be returned. As of now, there has been no confirmation of this exchange happening.
- Both the U.S. and Russia will collaborate to stabilize conditions in the Middle East.
How has Zelenskyy responded?
The Ukrainian president confirmed Kyiv’s support for efforts aimed at peace in the region but insisted on clarity regarding the details from Trump.
“We need to understand what precisely we are supporting,” he stated in a video message.
Addressing Trump as a “busy man,” Zelenskyy remarked, “When [Trump] has the time, he can call me anytime … we are open to discussing further steps.”
Regarding Putin’s demands to halt military and intelligence support for Ukraine, Zelenskyy, during a press conference with Finland’s President Alexander Stubb on Wednesday, stated, “I do not believe we should make any concessions regarding support for Ukraine; rather, we should increase assistance to Ukraine.”
After a tense meeting on February 28 in the Oval Office, during which Trump criticized Zelenskyy for not showing sufficient “gratitude” for U.S. aid, military assistance and intelligence sharing with Ukraine were paused. This support resumed after both Washington and Kyiv agreed to peace terms on March 11. Experts noted that this aid is vital for Kyiv, and its temporary suspension created a gap that could not be bridged by European allies.
Zelenskyy also stated that he would communicate with Trump later on Wednesday to gain more insights into the conversation with Putin.
What has happened since Trump and Putin spoke?
In a post on his X account on Tuesday, Zelenskyy reported that Russian drones had targeted civilian infrastructure, including a hospital in Sumy and areas in the Donetsk region.
“Such nighttime assaults by Russia are destroying our energy sector, infrastructure, and the everyday lives of Ukrainians,” Zelenskyy wrote.
“Today, Putin effectively rejected the proposal for a complete ceasefire. The world should rightfully respond by dismissing any attempts by Putin to prolong this war,” he added, insisting that sanctions should be imposed on Russia and support extended to Ukraine.
“Only a genuine halting of strikes on civilian infrastructure by Russia can prove its willingness to conclude this war and bring peace closer.”
On Wednesday, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported that Ukraine had targeted an energy facility in southern Russia’s Krasnodar region.
What energy infrastructure was being targeted in Russia and Ukraine?
In early March 2022, Russian forces secured the Zaphorizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest in Europe, located in southeastern Ukraine. It has six reactors, each with a capacity of 1 gigawatt. By September 2022, increased hostilities near the site prompted Energoatom, the Ukrainian state agency overseeing the plant, to shut down its last operating reactor.
In retaliation, Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian oil refineries and industrial facilities, with assaults intensifying since January. Ukrainian strikes have also aimed at Russia’s oil and gas pipelines and pumping stations, significantly damaging refineries in February and March and affecting about 10 percent of Russia’s refining capacity, according to calculations from Reuters based on trader data.
“The damage inflicted by Ukraine on Russia’s energy infrastructure is evidently something Russia is determined to halt,” Giles observed.
