In a significant diplomatic development, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held a phone conversation on March 18, marking their second direct dialogue since Trump’s return to the White House in January. The Kremlin confirmed that the call focused on efforts to de-escalate the Ukraine conflict, with both leaders discussing the potential for a mutual halt to strikes on energy infrastructure.

According to the Kremlin’s statement, Putin expressed his support for Trump’s proposal that Russia and Ukraine mutually agree to a 30-day halt on attacks targeting energy infrastructure. In response, the Russian president has instructed the military to implement this directive.

“The Russian President also responded constructively to Donald Trump’s idea of implementing a previously-discussed initiative concerning the safety of navigation in the Black Sea,” the statement read, highlighting another key point of agreement between the two leaders. It further stated that both Moscow and Washington had agreed to open negotiations on this matter in the coming days.

The Kremlin’s confirmation follows Washington’s unveiling of a 30-day ceasefire initiative last week after a meeting with Ukrainian representatives in Saudi Arabia. The proposal is seen as a major step toward temporary de-escalation, although significant hurdles remain.

While Putin has signaled openness to the idea of a truce, he has outlined certain conditions that he insists must be addressed before any ceasefire takes effect. These include concerns over Ukrainian troops reportedly encircled in Russia’s Kursk Region, as well as guarantees that Kiev would not exploit the truce to reinforce its military........

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