March 19, 2025 – President Vladimir Putin has spurned a 30-day ceasefire proposal for Ukraine that President Donald Trump had sought, instead agreeing only to limit attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. While the deal fell short of Trump’s expectations, he hailed the outcome as a step toward peace.
The Tuesday phone call between Trump and Putin offered no immediate breakthrough for the long-sought ceasefire. Trump had pushed for a temporary halt to hostilities to allow for a more permanent resolution to the three-year conflict. However, Putin’s response focused on restricting attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector while demanding that the US and its allies cease their military and intelligence support to Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, while open to discussions, has conditioned acceptance of this limited ceasefire on the US mediating between both sides. For Trump, the result was seen as a positive development. In a social media post, he declared that many elements of a “Contract for Peace” were discussed and that the process toward a larger ceasefire was now underway.
Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, who helped facilitate the talks, suggested that a US delegation led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz would soon travel to Saudi Arabia to work on the specifics of a ceasefire agreement. This progress, albeit modest, has shifted some of the political narrative surrounding Trump’s handling of the conflict, quieting fears that he might concede territory to Russia, such as recognizing Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
Despite this, retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, a former commanding general of US Army Europe, cautioned that Putin’s actions still suggest little interest in a lasting peace. “Vladimir Putin has zero interest in any true long-term settlement as long as he remains in power,” Hodges said in a Bloomberg Television interview. “His objective still remains the destruction of Ukraine.”
In the wake of the call, Russia launched further drone attacks on Kyiv, underscoring the lack of any immediate cessation of hostilities. Zelensky condemned Putin’s rejection of a full ceasefire and called for the world to oppose any effort to prolong the war.
Trump’s broader ambitions, however, go beyond Ukraine. The US president has hinted at potential economic and geopolitical benefits from improving relations with Russia. The White House highlighted the possibility of bilateral cooperation between the US and Russia, including in energy and the Middle East, where both countries have interests in managing regional conflicts.
However, European leaders have signaled they are not on the same page as Trump. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that the UK and the European Union are planning to increase military support to Ukraine ahead of any broad ceasefire. This approach contrasts sharply with Putin’s demands for a halt in arms shipments, further highlighting the division between Western allies and the US on how best to handle the situation.
As the conflict continues, the fate of a ceasefire remains uncertain, with European nations pushing forward with their strategy of bolstering Ukraine’s defense while the US seeks new diplomatic avenues.
Related Topics:
Trump’s Trade War Boosts Chinese Stocks Amid Global Uncertainty
Standard Chartered Identifies Reasons Behind Bitcoin’s Decline and Recovery Prospects
Despite Kremlin’s Claims, Russia’s Budget Deficit Signals Economic Crisis
