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Putin conditions the end of the war in Ukraine: complete stop to western military aid

In long phone call with Trump, Putin demands an end to military assistance to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia agrees to a temporary halt to attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure

Vladimir Putin has set as a key condition for ending the war in Ukraine a complete cessation of military and intelligence aid from the West. This requirement was the focus of a long telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump that lasted about two hours. Trump described the conversation as ‘productive’ and got the OK from Putin for a one-month temporary ceasefire on attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

However, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said this was not enough to stop the war, accusing Russia of wanting to further weaken Ukraine. Zelensky hopes for a future direct contact with Trump, emphasising that Russia does not seem to really want to end the conflict.

Despite the partial ceasefire, the situation on the ground remains tense. In the hours following the phone call between the two leaders, air raid sirens sounded in Kiev due to missile and drone attacks from Russia. However, the Kremlin stated that the agreement on stopping attacks on energy infrastructure was a goodwill gesture, and that Moscow was willing to continue working with the US to achieve lasting peace.

Among the positive results of the talks, Moscow and Kiev agreed on the exchange of 175 prisoners of war each, as well as the transfer of 23 seriously wounded Ukrainian soldiers. Trump expressed great optimism, saying that concrete steps are being taken towards an end to the conflict and peace in Ukraine, but the road still appears long and complex.

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