On March 18, the Kremlin announced that Russian President Putin and US President Trump held a telephone conversation. They had an in-depth discussion on topics such as the Ukraine conflict, US-Russia relations, Black Sea security, and the Iran issue, reaching consensus on several aspects.
During the call, Trump proposed that Russia and Ukraine cease attacks on each other's energy infrastructure within 30 days. Putin expressed support for this and has given corresponding instructions to the Russian military. Additionally, Russia outlined key ceasefire conditions, including halting forced mobilizations and the rearming of Ukrainian forces, emphasizing that a resolution through political and diplomatic means requires a complete cessation of foreign military aid and intelligence support.
The two sides also exchanged views on the issue of prisoners of war. Putin assured Trump that if Ukrainian soldiers surrender in the Kursk region, Russia would guarantee their safety and provide appropriate treatment. Furthermore, Russia and Ukraine will exchange 175 captured personnel on March 19. As a goodwill gesture, Russia will also hand over 23 severely wounded Ukrainian soldiers who have been receiving treatment in Russia.
The leaders of the US and Russia agreed to form expert groups specifically to study solutions to the Ukraine issue and plan negotiations on Black Sea navigation safety. Putin emphasized Russia's willingness to work with the US to seek a lasting solution to the Ukraine issue, to which Trump expressed approval.
They also discussed the normalization of bilateral US-Russia relations, unanimously agreeing that improving relations is necessary based on their shared responsibility for maintaining world stability. Additionally, the two leaders talked about the Iran issue, unanimously opposing Iranian statements threatening to destroy Israel.
Notably, during the call, Trump also expressed support for Putin's suggestion to organize a hockey game. While there was a certain degree of willingness to cooperate on multiple issues, the specific resolution of the Ukraine issue remains to be further observed.
