Putin agrees to temporary ceasefire on energy infrastructure after phone call with Trump
Russian president Vladimir Putin agrees not to attack Ukraine's energy infrastructure for 30 days, the Kremlin announced on Tuesday. The decision comes after a long-awaited phone call between Putin and US president Donald Trump on Tuesday.
According to the Kremlin's press service, Russian president Vladimir Putin had a "detailed and frank exchange of views" with his US counterpart Donald Trump on Ukraine on Tuesday.
Putin agreed to Trump's proposal that the warring parties refrain from attacking energy infrastructure for 30 days. Russia and Ukraine will also exchange 175 prisoners of war and "establish expert groups on Ukrainian settlement".
But the Russian president did not accept a full temporary ceasefire, to which Ukraine has already agreed. According to the Kremlin, Putin wants a "complete cessation of foreign military assistance and the provision of intelligence information to Kyiv" before any kind of ceasefire can take place.
After the call, the White House announced that negotiations on a naval ceasefire in the Black Sea would begin "immediately". These talks will take place in the Middle East. The US promises "huge economic deals and geopolitical stability" if peace is achieved.
EU boosts defence spending
Speaking at a press conference with French president Emmanuel Macron, outgoing German chancellor Olaf Scholz said the agreement was "a good start", but reiterated the need for Ukraine to be included in peace talks. Macron and Scholz also assured the country of continued military aid.
As well as defending Ukraine, EU leaders are also looking to bolster their own defence. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday that the EU must have a strong defence position by 2030, with sufficient deterrence and a strong industry to give it a strategic advantage. She also warned that Russia is preparing for a confrontation with Europe.
Not long after, incoming German chancellor Friedrich Merz secured a historic €500 billion spending boost for his country's military and infrastructure, motivated by "Putin's war of aggression". Also on Tuesday, Estonia's prime minister announced that his country would increase spending on its own defence to at least 5 per cent of GDP from 2026.
PHOTO © Gavriil GRIGOROV, Drew ANGERER / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / POOL / AFP
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