President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke for at least 90 minutes on Tuesday about efforts to end the war in Ukraine, according to the White House. Following the conversation, both leaders announced that “negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East.”

A ceasefire targeting energy infrastructure was also agreed upon during the call, according to statements from both the White House and the Kremlin. Trump later described the discussion as “very good and productive” in a post on Truth Social.

“Many elements of a Contract for Peace were discussed, including the fact that thousands of soldiers are being killed, and both President Putin and President Zelenskyy would like to see it end,” Trump wrote. “That process is now in full force and effect, and we will, hopefully, for the sake of Humanity, get the job done!”

President Trump: “My phone conversation today with President Putin of Russia was a very good and productive one…..” pic.twitter.com/tYxdSM3CuZ

— Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) March 18, 2025

The call began at 10 a.m. ET, according to White House spokesman Dan Scavino. The White House confirmed the call had ended by 12:52 p.m. but did not specify the exact time the conversation concluded.

A White House statement released afterward emphasized the need for a lasting peace in Ukraine and stronger U.S.-Russia relations.

“Today, President Trump and President Putin spoke about the need for peace and a ceasefire in the Ukraine war. Both leaders agreed this conflict needs to end with a lasting peace,” the statement read. “They also stressed the need for improved bilateral relations between the United States and Russia. The blood and treasure that both Ukraine and Russia have been spending in this war would be better spent on the needs of their people.

“This conflict should never have started and should have been ended long ago with sincere and good faith peace efforts,” the statement continued. “The leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire, and permanent peace. These negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East.”

The White House also noted that the two leaders discussed the Middle East as a region where future cooperation could help prevent conflicts. “They further discussed the need to stop proliferation of strategic weapons and will engage with others to ensure the broadest possible application. The two leaders shared the view that Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel,” the statement said.

According to Russia’s state-run TASS news agency, Putin made it clear that stopping all military aid to Ukraine was a key condition for ending the war. The Kremlin also reported that Putin accepted Trump’s proposal for a mutual 30-day pause in strikes on energy infrastructure and had ordered his military to comply. Additionally, Russia announced it would return 23 seriously wounded Ukrainian soldiers to Kyiv as a goodwill gesture.

Trump indicated progress had been made in the negotiations but that more work remained. “Many elements of a Final Agreement have been agreed to, but much remains,” he said.

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department pointed to Russia as the next step in the process. “The ball is now in Russia’s court” to accept a U.S.-proposed ceasefire deal that Ukraine agreed to last week, said spokesperson Tammy Bruce.

The U.S.-backed plan, which includes an immediate 30-day ceasefire and guarantees that U.S. military aid and intelligence support for Ukraine will resume, was finalized during diplomatic talks in Saudi Arabia last week.

The last time Trump and Putin spoke was in mid-February. At that time, Trump had described the call as highly productive, saying the two discussed Ukraine, the Middle East, energy, artificial intelligence, and the value of the U.S. dollar.

“We both reflected on the Great History of our Nations, and the fact that we fought so successfully together in World War II, remembering that Russia lost tens of millions of people, and we, likewise, lost so many!” Trump said.

He added that both leaders saw the potential for improved relations between their countries but agreed that “we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine” first.