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In a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine has accepted the unconditional ceasefire proposal put forward by the U.S. As part of the agreement, Zelenskyy confirmed that Kyiv would pause its strikes on Russian energy and civilian infrastructure, marking a significant step in de-escalating the conflict.
Zelenskyy explained that one of the first steps toward ending the war could involve halting attacks on energy infrastructure and other civilian sites. He emphasized that Ukraine is ready to implement this decision, which was discussed by Ukrainian and American teams in Jeddah earlier this month. The American side also proposed an unconditional ceasefire along the frontline, which Ukraine accepted.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for the productive conversation he had with President Trump. He referred to the talks as "positive, very substantive, and frank," and thanked Trump for the productive start to the work of both the Ukrainian and American teams in Jeddah on March 11. Zelenskyy added that the meeting helped move the parties closer to a resolution, and the focus would now be on continuing efforts to end the war and achieve lasting peace.
Zelenskyy shared his belief that under Trump's leadership and with the support of the U.S., lasting peace can be achieved within the year. He also hinted at the possibility of another round of peace talks in Saudi Arabia, with both Ukrainian and American teams prepared to meet again in the coming days to coordinate next steps.
In his post, Zelenskyy also mentioned that both leaders had instructed their teams to resolve technical issues surrounding the partial ceasefire and work toward expanding it. He emphasized the urgency of carrying out these tasks as quickly as possible, with the goal of advancing toward lasting peace and security guarantees.
Zelenskyy expressed his deep appreciation for Trump’s support, especially for his peace-through-strength concept, which he said played a significant role in prompting Ukraine to accept the ceasefire offer.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, confirmed that the negotiation process is on track. He noted that the discussions between the two leaders were aligned with his call with Russian President Vladimir Putin the previous day, aiming to bring both Russia and Ukraine closer to an agreement on their respective requests and needs.
During the conversation, Trump also raised the possibility of the United States taking ownership of Ukrainian power plants to ensure their protection and support for Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. According to Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump, this approach would be the best protection for Ukraine's energy facilities.
While the call between Trump and Putin did not result in the comprehensive ceasefire Ukraine had hoped for, it did yield some progress. Putin agreed to pause attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities for 30 days, a significant concession, following the conversation with Trump. However, he rejected Trump’s earlier proposal for a full cessation of hostilities.
This development marks a crucial moment in the ongoing peace negotiations, with both sides seemingly open to taking steps toward a temporary ceasefire while continuing diplomatic efforts. The focus now is on maintaining dialogue and finding a long-term solution to end the war.
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