Putin says no to full ceasefire with Ukraine

KABUL (Pajhwok): Russia has agreed to stop attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, ruling out a complete ceasefire, the BBC reported on Wednesday.

In a phone call with his US counterpart Donald Trump late on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine.

At a recent meeting in Saudi Arabia, top US and Ukrainian officials had worked out a comprehensive month-long truce. Putin, however, refused accepting the proposal.

The Russian leader argued a comprehensive truce could succeed only if global military assistance and intelligence sharing with Ukraine came to a stop.

The two leaders agreed further peace talks would take place immediately in the Middle East, where Israeli forces have killed hundreds of Palestinians in a new wave of airstrikes.

In a social media post, Trump hailed his call with Putin as "very good and productive". "Many elements of a contract for peace were discussed."

He claimed they agreed on an immediate halt to attacks on all energy facilities and infrastructure.

The US president said they had reached an understanding on working quickly to have a complete ceasefire and, ultimately, an end to the conflict.

Later, the White House said in a statement the two leaders agreed that the movement to peace would begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire.

This will be followed by negotiations over a "maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace".

The Kremlin said the end of foreign support and intelligence sharing with Ukraine was a "key condition" for Russia.

The two presidents agreed to immediate technical-level talks on a longer-term settlement, which the Kremlin said must be "complex, stable and long-term in nature".

PAN Monitor/mud