Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held talks with U.S. President Donald Trump following Trump’s 90-minute call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which Putin agreed to a limited 30-day halt on strikes against Ukraine’s power grid.
Despite the agreement, both Ukraine and Russia accused each other of violating the truce. Ukraine’s defense ministry reported overnight Russian missile and drone strikes that resulted in casualties and damage to infrastructure, including hospitals. Conversely, Russia’s defense ministry claimed Ukraine targeted an oil depot in southern Russia, alleging the attack aimed to undermine U.S.-Russian peace efforts.
Prior to his call with Trump, Zelensky cautioned against making concessions to Russia, especially concerning Putin’s demands to end Western military aid to Ukraine during any ceasefire. Putin also suggested that for a full ceasefire, Ukraine should halt rearmament and mandatory mobilization, a proposal Kyiv rejected, citing vulnerability to further Russian aggression. Ukraine seeks U.S. oversight of any ceasefire related to energy infrastructure.
Additionally, Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange involving 372 individuals, described by Moscow as a “goodwill gesture.” Meanwhile, technical discussions on a potential deal to end the conflict are scheduled to commence in Saudi Arabia, with a possible meeting between Trump and Putin anticipated, though no specific timeline has been provided.
