It is a particularly awaited interview. Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin exchanged by phone this Tuesday, March 18 for about 2:30. The Kremlin described in the wake of “detailed and frank” the conversation between the American president and the Russian president on Ukraine, when the White House praised the “immense advantage” of a “better” relationship with Russia. The two leaders also agreed to “normalize” the relations between their two countries, especially in the economy and energy sectors, according to the Kremlin. Here are the main points to remember from this interview.
Vladimir Putin wants the end of Ukraine’s “rearmament” …
Vladimir Putin set the conditions for a ceasefire in Ukraine, including the end of the country’s “rearmament”, the Kremlin said in a statement. “The Russian party has underlined a certain number of essential points concerning the effective control of a possible ceasefire on the entire contact line, the need to end forced mobilization in Ukraine and the rearmament of the Ukrainian armed forces,” reported the Kremlin.
The Russian president also said during this telephone conversation to his American counterpart being ready to work with the United States on the “possible ways of a settlement” of the conflict in Ukraine, said the Kremlin. “The Russian president said he was ready to work with his American partners on a thorough examination of the possible ways of a regulation, which should be global, stable and sustainable,” said the Kremlin. “Russian and American groups of experts” are “being set up” for this purpose, according to the Kremlin.
… and “the complete judgment” of Western military aid
Vladimir Putin asked Donald Trump “the complete judgment” of Western military aid and the sharing of information provided to Ukraine, the Kremlin said in the press release. “It was pointed out that the key condition to prevent an escalation of the conflict and work for its resolution by political and diplomatic ways must be the complete stop of foreign military assistance and the provision of information in kyiv,” said the Russian presidency.
Donald Trump had already suspended military aid in early March and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, only restoring him when kyiv had ratified his ceasefire project.
A 30-day ceasefire on energy and infrastructure in Ukraine
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin agreed on Tuesday of a 30-day ceasefire on energy and infrastructure in Ukraine and that negotiations on the conflict would begin “immediately”. These negotiations will take place in the Middle East, the White House announced in a press release.
The Kremlin said that Vladimir Putin has accepted a 30 -day mutual break in the strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, proposed by Donald Trump during a telephone call, and “immediately” ordered his implementation. The Kremlin master “reacted positively” to the initiative of the American president and “immediately gave the Russian soldiers a corresponding order”, said the Russian presidency.
Ukraine, which regularly targets the Russian oil and gas refrastructure and gas infrastructure, had initially formulated this proposal of a mutual break in the strikes, which was then taken up in the more global cease-fire proposal carried by the United States. However, the two leaders did not grant themselves for the unconditional and total ceasefire wanted by Donald Trump, already accepted by kyiv.
An exchange of prisoners of war from both camps
Russia and Ukraine will carry out an exchange of 175 prisoners of war on each camp on Wednesday, Vladimir Putin announced on Tuesday during his telephone conversation with Donald Trump. “Vladimir Putin said that on March 19, the Russian and Ukrainian parties will exchange prisoners – 175 people against 175,” the Kremlin said in a statement.
Hockey matches in the United States and Russia
In addition to their exchanges on the Ukrainian conflict, launched three years ago by the Russian assault, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin talked about the situation in the Middle East and traffic in the Black Sea, but also … of hockey, according to the Russian presidency. “Donald Trump supported Vladimir Putin’s idea to organize hockey matches in the United States and Russia between Russian and American players” playing in the leagues of the two countries, said this source.