Washington, March 19, 2025 — US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held an hour-long telephonic conversation on Wednesday morning to discuss progress toward a ceasefire in Ukraine. The call came just a day after Trump’s two-hour conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which the two leaders discussed halting strikes on energy and civilian infrastructure as a first step toward ending the war.

Trump Confirms Ceasefire Progress After Putin and Zelenskyy Talks

In a post on Truth Social, Trump described his conversation with Zelenskyy as “very good and productive,” emphasizing that the dialogue was aimed at aligning the needs of both Russia and Ukraine as part of a broader effort to bring about lasting peace in the region.

“Just completed a very good telephone call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. It lasted approximately an hour. Much of the discussion was based on the call made yesterday with President Putin in order to align both Russia and Ukraine in terms of their requests and needs. We are very much on track, and I will ask Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz to give an accurate description of the points discussed. That statement will be put out shortly,” Trump posted.

Zelenskyy Expresses Optimism Following Talks with Trump

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), echoed Trump’s optimism and called the conversation “substantive and positive.” Zelenskyy thanked Trump for his continued efforts to facilitate peace and highlighted the progress made during the March 11 meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where US and Ukrainian teams laid the groundwork for possible peace negotiations.

“I had a positive, very substantive, and frank conversation with President Donald Trump. I thanked him for a good and productive start to the work of the Ukrainian and American teams in Jeddah on March 11—this meeting of the teams significantly helped in moving toward ending the war. We agreed that Ukraine and the United States should continue working together to achieve a real end to the war and lasting peace. We believe that with President Trump and under American leadership, lasting peace can be achieved this year,” Zelenskyy posted.

Key Points of the Conversation Between Trump and Zelenskyy

• Ceasefire on Energy and Civilian Infrastructure: Trump shared details of his conversation with Putin, where both sides agreed to a mutual ceasefire on strikes targeting energy and civilian infrastructure. Zelenskyy expressed Ukraine’s willingness to implement this initial step immediately.
• Coordination for Further Peace Talks: Both leaders instructed their teams to resolve technical issues related to implementing and expanding the partial ceasefire. Trump and Zelenskyy also agreed to continue coordination efforts and meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to facilitate further dialogue.
• Future Peace Framework: Zelenskyy and Trump expressed hope that American leadership would play a pivotal role in securing a lasting ceasefire and peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.

Trump-Putin Conversation: Progress Toward Peace?

A day before his call with Zelenskyy, Trump held a two-hour telephonic conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where they discussed a framework for peace. Trump proposed a 30-day mutual halt to all strikes on energy and infrastructure as a first step toward a comprehensive ceasefire.

In his Truth Social post, Trump said, “We agreed to an immediate ceasefire on all energy and infrastructure, with an understanding that we will be working quickly to have a complete ceasefire and, ultimately, an end to this very horrible war between Russia and Ukraine.”

Putin Responds Positively to Ceasefire Proposal

Putin reportedly responded positively to Trump’s proposal and immediately instructed Russian forces to halt strikes on Ukrainian energy and civilian infrastructure. According to sources close to the Kremlin, Putin also reiterated his condition that a complete cessation of foreign military aid to Ukraine would be a key requirement for preventing an escalation.

Ukraine Ready to Implement Ceasefire Conditions

During his conversation with Trump, Zelenskyy confirmed Ukraine’s readiness to immediately implement the partial ceasefire and begin resolving technical issues through discussions with Russian and American teams.

“One of the first steps toward fully ending the war could be ending strikes on energy and other civilian infrastructure. I supported this step, and Ukraine confirmed that we are ready to implement it… We instructed our teams to resolve technical issues related to implementing and expanding the partial ceasefire. Ukrainian and American teams are ready to meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to continue coordinating steps toward peace,” Zelenskyy stated.

Saudi Arabia to Host Next Round of Negotiations

Following Trump’s proposal, both Ukrainian and Russian teams are expected to meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to continue technical discussions aimed at securing a broader peace deal. Saudi Arabia has emerged as a neutral ground for dialogue between the warring nations, with Trump’s administration playing a facilitative role.

US Role in Mediating Peace Between Russia and Ukraine

Trump’s involvement in mediating peace between Russia and Ukraine marks a significant shift in US foreign policy. Trump has positioned himself as a broker of peace, emphasizing that his approach is focused on bringing both parties to the negotiating table while balancing the interests of both Ukraine and Russia.

Trump’s strategy involves a step-by-step approach that starts with halting strikes on civilian infrastructure and gradually progresses toward a comprehensive peace agreement.

Potential Roadblocks and Challenges

While Trump’s ceasefire efforts have been met with optimism from both Ukraine and Russia, several challenges remain:

• Russia’s Demand to Cease Foreign Military Aid to Ukraine: Putin’s condition that Kyiv stops receiving foreign military assistance remains a potential roadblock.
• Internal Ukrainian Opposition: Some factions within Ukraine remain skeptical of any agreement that does not secure complete territorial sovereignty for Ukraine.
• Global Diplomacy and Western Allies: NATO and European allies may seek to protect Ukrainian sovereignty and could potentially challenge any agreements that compromise Ukraine’s long-term security.

Conclusion: A Path Toward Lasting Peace?

With Trump, Zelenskyy, and Putin aligned on initial ceasefire steps, there is cautious optimism that the groundwork is being laid for a lasting resolution to the ongoing conflict. American leadership, as emphasized by both Trump and Zelenskyy, remains key to achieving peace and stability in the region.

As Ukraine, Russia, and the US prepare for further negotiations in Saudi Arabia, the coming days will be critical in determining whether the current momentum can be sustained and expanded to bring an end to the war that has ravaged the region for years.

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