Russia Agrees to Partial Ceasefire in Ukraine after Trump-Putin Phone Call

What Happened?

Russia agreed to a partial ceasefire in Ukraine following a phone conversation between Russian President Putin and U.S. President Trump. 

While Mr. Putin rejected a full thirty-day ceasefire, which had been proposed by the U.S., he did agree to halt Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power grid. That was in return for the cessation of Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s energy industry.

The partial ceasefire will take effect immediately. But most of the major issues being discussed on how to bring a lasting end to the war were delegated to various working groups.

Why it Matters

A partial ceasefire can be viewed as a positive step towards peace, with Russia and Ukraine agreeing at least that some targets will be off limits for the duration. The cessation of attacks will likely benefit Ukraine the most, since its power grid has suffered severe damage at the hands of Russian attackers.

The delegation of discussions on the key issues of the war likely means a lasting peace agreement is months away, at least. In the meantime, fighting is likely to continue, since no other military actions were halted under the current partial ceasefire agreement. 

The halting of attacks on Ukraine’s power grid will provide some relief to Ukraine’s civilian population, although the damage already done will take years to repair.

While Russia hailed the phone call between Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin as the beginning of a new world order, that declaration may be premature. Whether this truly marks the beginning of closer U.S. and Russian cooperation on other issues besides Ukraine remains to be seen.

The discussion was a win for Mr. Putin in the sense he got the government of the United States to put more pressure on Ukraine while dialing back pressure on Russia. But with so many of the details for a long-term peace agreement still pushed to the side, the likelihood of continued combat for the rest of 2025 seems high. 

Ukraine hasn’t yet indicated if it will agree to the partial ceasefire, although Ukrainian President Zelensky will be under pressure from the United States to do so. 

Europe is digging in for the long haul, with nations like Germany and Poland undertaking substantial new defense spending to boost the size and capabilities of their armed forces. The reasons for the defense increases are clear, they are preparing for a potential future conflict with Russia.

How it Affects You

A lasting end to the war in Ukraine would be good news for the U.S. and its European allies since it would reduce the possibility of a direct confrontation with Russia. 

But the recent publicity surrounding the conversation with Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin may have just raised expectations without increasing the probability of a peace deal anytime soon.