Kremlin reveals results of Putin-Trump call
Afrasianet - The conversation between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump made the front pages of Western newspapers, with some headlines praising it, others questioning the possibility of concluding any future comprehensive peace agreement in Ukraine.
The newspapers headlined their articles:
New York Times: Putin agreed to neutralize energy utilities but did not agree to a comprehensive ceasefire in Ukraine?!
Le Figaro: The call comes on the heels of a dramatic shift in U.S. diplomacy, with Washington in just a few weeks seeing it move away from its Ukrainian ally and move closer to Moscow. The general tone between the two presidents in the phone call was cordial.
Wall Street Journal: Trump's call signifies a long path towards a Russian-Ukrainian agreement. Will Trump exert real pressure on Putin to make concessions, or will he try to extract more concessions from Kiev?
The Telegraph: Putin challenged Trump again and paid no price or concession. The Russian leader has played his usual trick by agreeing to something that restricts Ukraine's hands much more strongly than Russia's.
The Guardian: The Russian leader's extraordinary demands to weaken Ukraine would make any peace deal ridiculed.
Putin agreed to halt attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, but insisted on a set of demands that thwarted President Trump's hopes for a comprehensive ceasefire.
Bild: Trump has not been able to "push" the initiative for a complete ceasefire, which is questionable for Russia from a security point of view.
Responsiblestatecraft: The U.S.-Russian talks.. finally put the wheels (things) on the right path
CNBC: Putin and Trump's call is a step towards peace in Ukraine.
Kremlin reveals results of Putin-Trump call
In turn, the Kremlin spokesman said that the Russian and American presidents exchanged during a phone call today frank and detailed views on the situation in Ukraine.
The most prominent statements of the Kremlin after the phone call between Putin and Trump:
• Trump proposed a mutual halt between the parties to the conflict from targeting energy infrastructure facilities for 30 days, and Putin gave orders to the Russian military to implement
• The main condition to prevent the escalation of the conflict should be a complete cessation of foreign military assistance and the provision of intelligence to Kiev.
• Putin told Trump that on March 19, a prisoner exchange between the Russian and Ukrainian sides would take place by 175 people to 175.
• Putin and Trump stressed the importance of normalizing bilateral relations in light of the shared responsibility for world stability.
• The Russian and US presidents agreed to stay in touch on all issues discussed during the phone call.
• The Russian and US presidents confirmed their intention to continue efforts to settle the Ukrainian conflict.
• Putin expressed to Trump his readiness to work together on finding ways to settle the crisis in Ukraine, which must be sustainable.
• Russia and the United States will form expert groups to settle the Ukraine crisis.
• Russia will return to Kiev 23 seriously wounded Ukrainian soldiers as a gesture of goodwill.
• Putin and Trump have agreed to start negotiations to study an initiative related to the security of navigation in the Black Sea.
• The Russian president outlined "a number of fundamental points" on Trump's 30-day ceasefire initiative, which relate to Kiev's inability to negotiate.
• The Russian president drew Trump's attention to the brutal crimes committed by Ukrainian militants against civilians in Kursk.
• Putin assured Trump that Russia guarantees life and decent treatment of Ukrainian soldiers in the event of their surrender in the Kursk region.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump held an important call that lasted about two and a half hours in terms of putting dots on letters on ways to end the Ukraine conflict.
Moscow and Washington have expressed optimism about their recent talks, but agreed that the most outstanding issues of resolving the Ukraine conflict can only be resolved through contact at the highest levels.
A Russian source confirmed to CNN that Russian and US presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump had a phone call that went very well and lasted about two hours.