(MENAFN) Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump spoke by phone on Tuesday to discuss efforts toward establishing a ceasefire in Ukraine, the Kremlin has confirmed. This marks their second direct conversation since Trump’s return to office in January.

During the call, Putin expressed support for Trump’s proposal for a 30-day mutual halt to strikes on energy infrastructure and ordered the Russian military to comply. Additionally, the Russian leader responded positively to Trump’s initiative regarding the safety of navigation in the Black Sea, with both sides agreeing to begin negotiations on the matter.

The conversation follows the US-backed 30-day ceasefire proposal, which was presented last week after meetings with Ukrainian representatives in Saudi Arabia. While Putin has signaled openness to the truce, he has set conditions, including addressing the status of Ukrainian troops surrounded in Russia’s Kursk Region and securing guarantees that Kiev will not exploit the pause to rearm.

Trump had earlier stated that he expected significant progress from the call, hinting at discussions on territorial issues and energy infrastructure. Their previous conversation on February 12 was the first direct communication between US and Russian leaders in years, leading to high-level talks in Saudi Arabia on February 18. Since then, further negotiations have taken place in Istanbul, covering diplomatic relations, embassy operations, and Moscow’s proposal to restore direct flights.

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