Russia has pledged to limit its attacks on Ukraine, but does not accept a complete truce for the time being. It has, however, left the door open for peace in the future.

According to a publication in the Portuguese newspaper BusinessAccording to a White House statement, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump reached an agreement for a "ceasefire on energy and infrastructure" in Ukraine and also agreed to start negotiating a "total ceasefire and permanent peace", after the two leaders spoke on the phone for around 90 minutes.

The Kremlin confirmed that Russia had agreed not to hit energy infrastructure for 30 days. However, the US points out that Moscow refused to adopt a 30-day general ceasefire immediately - an idea that Kiev agreed to last week. Instead, the two presidents agreed to start negotiating peace in Ukraine and also a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea. These negotiations will begin "immediately" and will take place in the Middle East, but the White House has not indicated who will lead the negotiations.

On the Russian side, it has been specified that Putin has set out several requirements for a complete ceasefire, including the suspension of arms supplies to Ukraine. He also wants Kiev to stop mobilizing new recruits. "It was emphasized that the fundamental condition for preventing the escalation of the conflict and working towards its resolution by political and diplomatic means must be the complete cessation of foreign military assistance and the supply of information to Kiev," the communiqué said, quoted by Reuters.

The Kremlin described the conversation as a "detailed and frank exchange of views" and indicated that Putin emphasized the importance of a "comprehensive, sustainable and long-term" solution to the conflict in Ukraine that takes into account Russia's security interests.

US President Donald Trump confirmed on his social network after the meeting that he has an understanding with his Russian counterpart to negotiate a "total ceasefire" in Ukraine quickly.

"We agreed to an immediate ceasefire on energy facilities and infrastructure, with the understanding that we will work quickly to achieve a total ceasefire and ultimately an end to this truly horrible war between Ukraine and Russia," Trump wrote after the phone conversation with the Kremlin leader.

The US President has insisted on the idea of a 30-day ceasefire, hoping that such a truce could represent a first step on the road to peace. The war in Ukraine is the biggest armed conflict in Europe since World War II and has killed and injured hundreds of thousands of people, as well as displacing millions of Ukrainians whose homes have been destroyed.

However, Trump has also hinted that his peace efforts could include territorial concessions from Kiev, as well as control of the Zaporjia nuclear power plant. Asked on Sunday about the negotiations, he said: "We're going to talk about land. Let's talk about power plants, we're already talking about that, about the division of certain assets."

(Photo DR)