Some interesting developments in the aftermath of special envoy Steve Witkoff spending four hours in discussions with President Vladimir Putin.
After Witkoff relayed the substance of the lengthy Putin meeting, the White House and President Trump announced a phone call between Trump and Putin is scheduled for Tuesday. The Kremlin have confirmed the call schedule.
It is important to stay focused on the factual aspects to these ongoing negotiations. President Putin’s public statements after the Witkoff meeting essentially said Russia agrees in principle with the need for a ceasefire, and the details of coordinating a 2,000km long point of conflict need to be worked out.
Meanwhile, in somewhat of a surprise statement, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s commissioner for sanctions policy, said they are open to the removal of economic sanctions against Russia as part of a negotiated peace deal.
(Via Politico) – Western sanctions on Russia could ultimately be dropped if it helps deliver security and justice for Ukraine, Kyiv’s top sanctions official told POLITICO, as United States President Donald Trump steps up bilateral negotiations with Moscow in a bid to end the war.
Vladyslav Vlasiuk, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s commissioner for sanctions policy, said in an interview that a return to countries doing business with Russia in one way or another is simply “a matter of time,” but had to take place under the right conditions.
Economic restrictions, embargoes and bans on importing Russian energy, he said, “have their own objectives, which might be pushing Russia to stop its aggression and to make them make a deal on lasting peace,” rather than simply being a “punishment of any kind.” (read more)
SOS different president. Russia and Ukraine had the same agreement last year. Ukraine broke it by invading Kursk. The US broke it by green lighting long range strikes in Russia.
I read Putin mentioned to Trump about having a Hockey game between US and Russia. Maybe the puck will be Ukraine.
Putin threw a couple of table scraps President Trump gobbled them up.
It matters not to Russia if the agreement is kept or not. Russia is not out anything.
Trump gets to put a feather in his hat.
Just to be fair.
Press release from Russian Office of the President
(translated)
Telephone conversation with US President Donald TrumpHe stood Vladimir Putin’s telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump.
18 March 2025
Leaders continued a detailed and frank exchange of views on the situation around Ukraine. Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude to Donald Trump for the aspiration contribute to the achievement of the noble goal of the cessation of hostilities and human losses.
Confirming principled commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict, the President of Russia declared readiness for joint with American partners carefully elaboration of possible settlement, which should be carried out comprehensive, Sustainable and long-term nature. And of course, take into account the unconditional the need to eliminate the root causes of the crisis, Russia’s legitimate security interests.
In the context of the initiative of the President of the United States on the introduction of a 30-day truce with the Russian parties have identified a number of significant points concerning the provision of effective control over a possible ceasefire along the entire line of combat contact, the need to stop forced mobilization in Ukraine and rearmament of the APU. There were also serious risks associated with the inability of the Kiev regime, which has repeatedly sabotged and violated the agreements reached. Attention is paid to the barbaric Crimes of a terrorist nature committed by Ukrainian militants against the civilian population of the Kursk region.
It’s emphasized, that the key condition for preventing the escalation of the conflict and working in the direction of its resolution by political and diplomatic means should be complete Ending of Foreign Military Assistance and Reconnaissance information to Kiev.
In connection with the recent appeal of Donald trump to save lives surrounded in Kursk Ukrainian military Vladimir Putin confirmed that the Russian the party is ready to be guided by humanitarian considerations and, if captured, guarantees AFU soldiers a life and a decent treatment according to Russian laws and norms of international law.
In the course of The conversation between Donald Trump put forward a proposal to reciprocate the parties to the conflict from strikes for 30 days on energy infrastructure. Vladimir Putin responded positively to this initiative and immediately gave the Russian military the appropriate team.
Also constructively, the President of Russia reacted to the idea expressed by Donald trump The well-known initiative concerning the safety of navigation in the Black Sea. Prosponents to start negotiations for additional development of specific details of such an agreement.
Vladimir Putin said that on March 19 between the Russian and Ukrainian sides The prisoner exchange will be exchanged – 175 for 175 people. In addition, as 23 seriously wounded Ukrainian servicemen will be handed over a gesture of goodwill, Healed in Russian medical institutions.
The leaders confirmed intention to continue efforts to achieve the Ukrainian settlement in bilateral mode, including taking into account the above-mentioned proposals of the President United States. For this purpose, Russian and American expert groups are being created.
Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump also touched upon other issues on the international agenda, including the situation in the Middle East and the Red Sea region. Will Joint efforts have been made to stabilize the crisis situation points, cooperation on nuclear non-proliferation and global security. This, in turn, will contribute to the improvement of The general atmosphere of Russian-American relations. One of the positive examples – United Nations-United Nations vote on a resolution on the Ukrainian conflict.
Expressed Mutous interest in normalizing bilateral relations in the light of special responsibility of Russia and the United States for ensuring security and stability in the world. In this context, a wide range of areas were considered, in which Our countries could have established cooperation. A number of ideas that are going towards the development of mutually beneficial cooperation in the economy and energy in the future were discussed.
Donald Trump supported the idea of Vladimir Putin to organize hockey matches in the United States and Russia between Russian and American players playing in the NHL and the KHL.
Presidents agreed to remain in contact on all issues raised.
http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/76477