Trump-Putin ceasefire talks stall as Putin rejects full truce, agreeing only to spare Ukraine’s energy infrastructure amid ongoing attacks

WASHINGTON/LONDON – Russian President Vladimir Putin has refused to agree to an immediate, full ceasefire in Ukraine, opting instead for a limited pause on attacks against energy infrastructure following a high-stakes call with US President Donald Trump. However, within hours of the agreement, both Russia and Ukraine accused each other of fresh air strikes, casting doubt on any real de-escalation.

Trump hailed the discussion as “very good and productive” and claimed progress towards a broader peace deal. “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,” he wrote on Truth Social.

Yet the Kremlin was far less optimistic. Its statement outlined “significant issues” in enforcing any agreement, with Putin insisting that a full truce could only be viable if Western military aid and intelligence support to Ukraine ceased—conditions that Kyiv and its allies have repeatedly rejected.

This latest diplomatic twist follows weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations led by US officials, who had persuaded Ukraine to accept a 30-day ceasefire proposal. But Putin’s refusal to commit to it fully has left Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky questioning Russia’s true intentions.

Zelensky, speaking from Finland shortly after Trump and Putin’s call, said Ukraine was open to discussions on protecting energy infrastructure but needed more clarity. Hours later, he accused Russia of violating the spirit of the deal by launching a new wave of drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, striking a hospital in Sumy and targeting power supplies in Slovyansk.

Meanwhile, Russia also reported Ukrainian strikes, with a drone attack on an oil depot in the Krasnodar region and an attempted ground assault on Belgorod, which Moscow claimed to have repelled.

The fallout from the Trump-Putin call has triggered mixed reactions globally. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz cautiously welcomed the move as a “first step” but stressed the need for a full ceasefire. French President Emmanuel Macron echoed similar sentiments, while British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer reassured Zelensky that the UK’s “unwavering support” for Ukraine remained intact.

In Washington, the response has been more muted. The White House statement following the call omitted any mention of the ceasefire plan previously brokered with Ukraine, instead focusing on a phased approach to peace—starting with energy and infrastructure, followed by potential talks on maritime security in the Black Sea, and ultimately, a broader settlement.

However, many see Putin’s stance as a delaying tactic. The Russian leader has consistently demanded that Ukraine cede occupied territories and that Western sanctions on Moscow be lifted—red lines Kyiv refuses to cross.

Putin has also tested Trump’s willingness to distance the US from Ukraine. Earlier this month, the US temporarily suspended military aid to Ukraine after a tense Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelensky, during which Trump and Vice-President JD Vance publicly admonished the Ukrainian leader for being “ungrateful.”

The situation remains fluid, with US officials set to resume talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, this weekend. Whether the energy ceasefire holds—or unravels into further violence—will be the first real test of whether Trump and Putin’s “understanding” has any substance.