Zelenskyy Supports Halt to Strikes on Civilian Infrastructure in Talks With Trump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that he and US President Donald Trump agreed to halt strikes on Russian energy and civilian infrastructure as part of initial steps toward a broader ceasefire.

In a statement on X, Zelenskyy described his conversation with Trump as “positive, very substantive, and frank,” emphasizing that both leaders committed to working together to achieve a lasting peace.

According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine accepted a US proposal to halt strikes on energy and infrastructure facilities.

Zelenskyy stated that Trump shared details of his conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, and both sides agreed that ceasing strikes on energy and civilian infrastructure could be a first step toward a full cessation of hostilities. Ukrainian and American teams are set to meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to coordinate further steps toward peace.

In the discussion, Zelenskyy also provided updates on battlefield developments, the impact of Russian strikes, the situation in the Kursk region, the release of prisoners of war, and the return of Ukrainian children taken by Russian forces. Additionally, he and Trump discussed strengthening Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.

Both leaders instructed their teams to address technical aspects of the ceasefire’s implementation and expansion, aiming to accelerate progress toward a comprehensive peace agreement. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to Trump and the American people for their support, affirming Ukraine’s commitment to peace and emphasizing the importance of the “peace through strength” approach.

Trump described the call as “very good” and stated that much of the discussion built upon his previous conversation with Putin. He noted that the talks aimed at aligning the positions and demands of both Russia and Ukraine.

On March 18, Trump and Putin spoke for over 90 minutes, with the White House later stating that both sides agreed that progress toward peace should begin with a ceasefire in the energy and infrastructure sectors.

Despite these discussions, Russia launched a large-scale drone attack on Ukraine overnight on March 19. Strikes were reported on civilian and infrastructure targets, including a hospital in Sumy, residential buildings in the Bucha district of Kyiv region, and railway facilities in Dnipropetrovsk region.

Following the attacks, Zelenskyy stated that Putin had effectively rejected the proposal for a complete ceasefire. He emphasized that any attempts to prolong the war should be met with a firm international response, calling for continued sanctions against Russia and military support for Ukraine.