WASHINGTON: In a surprising diplomatic breakthrough, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on March 18, 2025, to a 30-day “limited” ceasefire in Ukraine, aiming to pause the brutal conflict that has claimed countless lives since 2022. The deal, hashed out during a 90-minute phone call, marks Trump’s first major foreign policy win since reclaiming the presidency.
The ceasefire, described as a tentative first step, focuses on halting attacks on energy and infrastructure targets—a nod to the war’s devastating toll on civilian life. White House officials confirmed the leaders reached a “conceptual understanding,” with Trump calling it “a good start” to ending the war. The Kremlin corroborated the talks, noting Putin’s openness to further dialogue, though it stressed unresolved issues remain.
The agreement builds on a U.S.-proposed truce Ukraine accepted earlier this month, brokered by Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. However, Putin’s assent came with strings: a demand to freeze Western military aid to Kyiv during the pause, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected outright. “This isn’t peace—it’s a delay tactic,” Zelenskyy warned, insisting Russia’s terms show it’s unprepared to end the war.
Details remain murky. The ceasefire’s scope—limited to specific sectors or frontlines—is still being ironed out, and thorny topics like occupied territories linger. Trump hinted at “asset division” as a long-term fix, while Putin raised concerns about Ukraine rearming, pushing for oversight. Both leaders expressed cautious optimism, with Putin noting U.S.-Russia ties, once “at zero,” might thaw.
Reactions vary. European allies like France welcome the breather but demand verification and Ukraine’s inclusion in talks. At home, Trump faces praise from MAGA supporters but skepticism from critics wary of concessions to Moscow. As the 30-day clock prepares to tick, the world watches whether this fragile truce holds—or unravels.
