US President Donald Trump had a 90-minute phone conversation with Russian President Donald Trump on the Ukraine war ceasefire, which ended with Russia agreeing to a mutual end to targeting energy infrastructure.
Putin, however, declined to commit to a 30-day full ceasefire, a plan pitched by the Trump administration during Jeddah talks and agreed to by Ukraine. Instead, the Russian leader insisted on all ends to foreign military aid and intelligence sharing as a condition for a ceasefire, which Ukraine's European allies have rejected.
The White House expressed satisfaction at the talks, stating Russia "will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire". The readout added that negotiations are being planned on "a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace".
Trump also, in a social media post, described the call as "a very good and productive one" and said the two share "an understanding that we will be working quickly to have a Complete Ceasefire and, ultimately, an END to this very horrible War."
The Kremlin's readout too was dressed up positively, stating Putin "immediately gave the Russian military the corresponding order" on ceasing attacks on energy infrastructure.
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to the development, stating he was in favour of both sides halting attacks on each other’s infrastructure but was waiting for details of what had been agreed first. "Of course, we are glad that there is a first step, and this is what we offered: silence in the sky and at sea. The Americans offered more, a complete ceasefire. In fact, the Russians refused," said Zelenskyy.
Russia's loophole
Putin's carefully worded agreement pertains only to a ceasefire on "energy infrastructure" and made no mention of stopping firing at ports, bridges and other Ukrainian infrastructure, despite the Trump administration's suggestion that all types of infrastructure would be out of bounds.
However, many feel the agreement is wholly in Russia's favour, considering that Ukraine won't be able to hit Russia where it hurts the most: its oil refineries. Ukraine has been successfully carrying out drone attacks on Russian refineries, causing damage to its sprawling facilities and thereby its economy.
"In essence, Putin has quietly confirmed to Trump how much our deep strikes are hurting the Russian energy sector. This is our card," said Ukrainian member of parliament and soldier Roman Lozinskyj, in a Facebook post.
As for Russia, ceasing attacks on energy infrastructure is not much of a concession since Ukraine's dire need for heating has lessened with the onset of summer. Russia has also offered the swap of 175 prisoners and the return of 23 seriously wounded Ukrainians, which many think is "a minor arrangement" and something that would have happened either way.
Analysts also think Russia left the most crucial parts of the discussions to the next meeting while bringing back to the conversation their demand to end all foreign aid and intelligence for Ukraine. Putin also did not bring up "nuances" he very much stressed in his speech, including the peacekeeping forces to police the front line. Instead, he outsmarted Trump with some concessions, rather than a flat "no".