Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected committing to a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine following a conversation with U.S. counterpart Donald Trump, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday. He did agree to limit attacks on Ukrainian energy assets in what the White House said the talks were a first step in a "movement to peace."
The two heads of state also agreed to begin negotiations on a "maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace," the outlet added. Conversations will continue in the Middle East, the White House said, although it did not specify the location or who will lead the negotiations.
The Kremlin, on its end, reiterated the need for weapons deliveries to Ukraine be halted as a key condition to begin a ceasefire. It added that Putin told Trump the country was ready to spare the lives of Ukrainian soldiers surrounded in Russia's Kursk region if they surrender.
The call to halt weapons deliveries could prove difficult to agree on, as European nations are extremely reluctant to halt their shipments, considering a scenario where Russia rearms during a truce only to go back to the battlefield in a stronger position.
The Russian president had said last June that in order to achieve peace Ukraine must officially drop any ambitions to join NATO and withdraw from the regions claimed by the country, which represent about a fifth of its territory.
Bloomberg reported earlier on Tuesday that t the Trump administration has already conceded demands to keep control of occupied territory, although it's not clear how much of it, and for Kyiv to be prevented from entering NATO.It has also agreed to limits to the Ukrainian army and weapons. European nations have conveyed concern about the possibility that the situation will leave Ukraine in a weaker position in the future.
Russia is approaching the talks from a stronger position than weeks ago after retaking much of the Kursk region, which had been taken by Ukraine in a counter-offensive last year.
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