Peace in Ukraine starts with both sides agreeing to a partial cease-fire on energy infrastructure as talks continue . . .

by Sundance and the Epoch Times, March 19, 2025

President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin held a multi-hour phone conversation earlier today.  Both the Kremlin and Trump administration release statements conveying agreement to a drawdown in combat and a 30-day ceasefire of hostilities beginning with a stoppage of energy and infrastructure bombardment.

 

President Trump releases the following message via Truth Social: “My phone conversation today with President Putin of Russia was a very good and productive one. We agreed to an immediate Ceasefire on all Energy and Infrastructure, with an understanding that we will be working quickly to have a Complete Ceasefire and, ultimately, an END to this very horrible War between Russia and Ukraine. 

This War would have never started if I were President! Many elements of a Contract for Peace were discussed, including the fact that thousands of soldiers are being killed, and both President Putin and President Zelenskyy would like to see it end. That process is now in full force and effect, and we will, hopefully, for the sake of Humanity, get the job done!” ~ Donald Trump

The message from President Trump has been very direct and straightforward, stop the killing.  The rest is details that can be worked out amid the parties involved.  The blunt truth behind the message is an affirmation for peace.

Strategically, the renewal of a relationship between the U.S. and Russia allows President Trump to enlist the assistance of Putin on the issues of Iran and the middle east.  Again, more peace.

Building reasonable economic ties that mutually assist each nation is another step toward stability, mutual respect and peace.  Nothing about this is too complicated, yet it runs counter to traditional geopolitical approaches that create conflict within the space when talking stops.

Russia and Ukraine stop destroying energy and infrastructure.  Then they stop maritime conflict in the Black Sea. Then eventually, shortly, all ground fighting stops at the current geographical lines of conflict, and talks of long-term peace begin.

There is mutual respect between President Trump and President Putin that is easy to understand when you recognize the value in brutal honesty that both leaders reflect.  Dropping pretenses is the first step toward successful discussions.
 

Zelenskyy Also Agrees to Limited Russia–Ukraine Cease-Fire in Call With Trump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has agreed to a moratorium on attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure following a March 19 phone call with President Donald Trump.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz issued a statement on the Trump–Zelenskyy call, saying that the two leaders “agreed on a partial ceasefire against energy.”

Zelenskyy confirmed the development in a post on social media platform X, saying, “I supported this step, and Ukraine confirmed that we are ready to implement it.”

Trump’s and Zelenskyy’s phone conversation lasted about an hour and came a day after Trump proposed the moratorium on energy infrastructure attacks to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Following that March 18 call, the Kremlin stated that Putin had immediately passed down the order to halt new Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy facilities.

“Much of the discussion was based on the call made yesterday with President Putin in order to align both Russia and Ukraine in terms of their requests and needs,” Trump said of his March 19 call with Zelenskyy.

Just hours before his call with Washington, Zelenskyy alleged that Russian forces had already breached the agreement.

Speaking at a press conference in Finland, Zelenskyy said Russian forces launched about 150 attack drones toward Ukraine in the hours after Trump concluded his call with Putin. He said those Russian attack drones had targeted Ukrainian energy sites, transportation systems, and hospitals.

Russian officials claimed that Ukrainian forces had also targeted an oil transfer site in Russia’s Krasnodar region on March 19, setting fire to an oil tank there.

Despite the accusations of a breach, Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform, “We are very much on track.”