Archive: https://archive.is/2025.03.18-173858/https://www.ft.com/content/75b37ad2-0f35-4fe7-b3cf-a36b965c9a71
Vladimir Putin has ordered Russia’s military to refrain from striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure for 30 days after a call with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
The Russian president “reacted positively” to Trump’s suggestion to stop attack on Ukraine’s power plants, the Kremlin said in a readout of the call.
But he stopped short of agreeing to a US-backed proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine. Instead, Putin pointed to a “series of significant issues” about how a ceasefire would be enforced and “serious risk” about whether Ukraine would adhere to it.
Putin and Trump agreed to continue to work to end the war, the Kremlin added, and would set up bilateral groups of experts to work on brokering a cessation of hostilities.
After the call, the White House said Trump and Putin had “agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire” — with “technical negotiations” to begin on implementing a “maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea” followed by negotiations on a “full ceasefire and permanent peace”.
This is a developing story
Russian drone strikes immediately follow Trump-Putin talks
A hospital in Sumy was bombed in a wave of attacks on Ukraine … The Kremlin said after Trump and Putin’s call that the Russian president had given immediate orders for such strikes to stop.
Putin supporting the divisive Trump here plays Trump’s narcissistic ego and strengthens his position as a disruptor of the western coalition and Ukraine, the other parties involved in the process.
Maybe it’s a good thing. Or maybe it’s a small thing that makes no difference. Putin left everything open. He didn’t restrict his maneuverability at all.
I considered calling it “maybe an important symbol”. But Putin always manipulates and plays with those. So calling it that would only play in his hands.
What is this worth, given that spring is approaching?
It’s worth nothing, considering that is what Putin’s word is worth.
This has nothing to do with war or peace: the whole thing (back from when the phone call was announced last week) is propaganda.
Here’s what’s worth IMHO:
- Putin can continue his war, but today nobody wrote that he is cold towards the peace process.
- Trump can triumphally (trumpally?) announce that he is making great progress (the best progress) towards “peace”.
What is it worth given the fact that they’re two rich old white dudes known to waking up not caring what they said yesterday constantly?
Still need lots of fuel for vehicles and military vehicles in particular.
Context?
It’s an air raid alert map with a date and time, which was supposed to serve as a supplement to the news piece.
