Wed Mar 19 16:54:09 UTC 2025: ## Trump Brokers Partial Ceasefire in Russia-Ukraine Conflict, but Challenges Remain
**Kyiv, Ukraine –** Following separate phone calls with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a partial ceasefire in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The agreement, reached after a Tuesday call with Putin, sees Russia agreeing to halt strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. However, this limited ceasefire falls short of a full 30-day cessation of hostilities demanded by Ukraine.
Zelenskyy expressed skepticism, noting that a barrage of drone strikes targeting civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, occurred hours after Putin’s pledge. He further rejected Putin’s condition that Western military aid to Ukraine cease, arguing that such a move would endanger Ukrainian lives and prolong the conflict. Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine’s unwillingness to concede occupied territories as a condition for peace.
The Kremlin confirmed the partial ceasefire concerning energy infrastructure but accused Ukraine of attacking Russian pipelines. They also reported intercepting numerous Ukrainian drones. The White House described the agreement as a first step towards peace, anticipating further negotiations.
Experts, including the Institute for the Study of War, interpreted Putin’s actions as a tactic to extract concessions from Ukraine before formal negotiations. Finnish President Alexander Stubb, while acknowledging the tentative progress, stressed the need for Russia to end its aggression completely. A meeting between U.S. and Russian officials is planned in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to discuss implementing and expanding the partial ceasefire. The Ukrainian government’s participation in these talks remains unconfirmed. The situation remains tense, with both sides trading accusations of violating the agreed-upon terms.
First Piper 