Tom Bateman
BBC State Department correspondent
Report from the White House
Watch: BBC’s Tom Bateman unlocks Russian ceasefire conditions
President Vladimir Putin refused an immediate and complete ceasefire in Ukraine and agreed only to halt attacks on energy infrastructure following his call with President Donald Trump.
The Russian leader refused to register for a comprehensive monthly ceasefire where Trump’s team recently worked with Saudi Ukrainians.
He said a comprehensive ceasefire could only work if foreign military aid and sharing of intelligence news with Ukraine are over.
Ukraine’s European allies have previously rejected such a situation.
The US and Russian leaders agreed that further peace negotiations will take place soon in the Middle East, but the outcome of the call pays off the retreat of the Trump administration, which was standing a week ago.
When a US delegation met his Ukrainian counterparts in Jeddah last Tuesday, they persuaded Kiev to agree to the proposal for a “immediate” 30-day ceasefire across land, air and seas.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine is embracing the idea of an armistice covering energy infrastructure, but would like more details first.
“I think it’s right to talk to President Trump, and we’ll know in detail what the Russians offered to the Americans, what the Americans offered to the Russians,” Zelensky said.
Trump posted on social media that Tuesday’s call with Russian leaders was “very good and productive.”
“We have agreed to an immediate ceasefire of all energy and infrastructure. Understanding that we will be working on a full ceasefire quickly, ultimately the end of this very horrifying war between Russia and Ukraine,” the US president said of the true society.
“Many elements of the contract for peace have been discussed, including the fact that thousands of soldiers have been killed, both Putin and Zelenkie want to see it end.”
After a speech in Jeddah last week, Secretary of State Marko Rubio said the “ball” was in the Russian courts after the Ukrainians accepted the proposal for a complete ceasefire.
However, a White House statement following Trump Putin’s call did not mention that agreement with Kiev.
Instead, the two leaders agreed that “the move to peace begins with a ceasefire of energy and infrastructure,” followed by negotiations over a “maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, a complete ceasefire and lasting peace.”
However, it noted that the Kremlin’s own statement on Cole said it was a “square of important issues” regarding enforcing an agreement with Kiev. He also said that the end of Ukraine’s foreign support and intelligence was a “important condition” for Russia.
Trump and Putin agreed to immediate technical level consultations for a long-term settlement, but said the Kremlin should be “complex, stable, and inherently long-term.”
However, it is unclear whether this would mean further negotiations between the US and Russia, or a bilateral meeting between Russia and Ukraine.
Ukraine will likely be seen as Vladimir Putin playing for hours, probably with the results of his scheduled phone call on Tuesday, but he will add unstable conditions to the settlement.
Russian leaders are tasting Trump’s preparation to cut off US support for Ukraine, and are trying to make him repeat it as he throws the ball back to Kiev.
