This morning, on March 18, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump engaged in a significant phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking a pivotal moment in their efforts to address the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The White House reported that the conversation, which began around 10 a.m. Eastern Time, focused on establishing a 30-day ceasefire targeting energy and infrastructure strikes in Ukraine. Both leaders expressed a mutual desire to see the conflict end with a “lasting peace,” with Trump pushing for immediate negotiations to de-escalate the war that has devastated Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. The call, lasting over two hours according to some sources, also touched on broader topics, including potential cooperation in the Middle East and improving bilateral U.S.-Russia relations, which the White House described as having “huge upside.”

The discussion was not without its complexities, as Putin raised concerns about the feasibility of a broader ceasefire. According to Kremlin statements, he emphasized the need for strict oversight to prevent Ukraine from using any truce to rearm or forcibly conscript more soldiers, reflecting Russia’s skepticism based on past experiences with Kyiv. Meanwhile, Trump appeared confident in his approach, building on his campaign promises to swiftly resolve the conflict. The agreement to pause attacks on critical infrastructure was seen as a concrete first step, with additional details emerging about a prisoner exchange scheduled for Wednesday, involving 175 captives from each side. This development suggests a willingness from both leaders to take tangible actions toward de-escalation, though Putin stopped short of endorsing an unconditional ceasefire as proposed by the U.S. and Ukraine earlier.

The call has sparked varied reactions globally, with some viewing it as a breakthrough and others as a potential betrayal of Ukraine’s interests. Trump’s focus on discussing land and power plants—such as the Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility—hints at a negotiation that could involve territorial concessions, a prospect that worries Ukrainian leaders like Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who insist on full sovereignty. European allies, while supportive of peace efforts, remain cautious about Trump’s direct engagement with Putin, especially given his administration’s apparent shift away from NATO-centric policies. As negotiations are set to begin immediately, with Trump’s team including Secretary of State Marco Rubio leading the charge, the world watches closely to see if this morning’s conversation will indeed pave the way for an end to Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II, or if it will deepen existing geopolitical divides.