‘The blood and treasure’: Donald Trump and Putin reach consensus on pursuing a 30-day limited ceasefire in Ukraine 

The White House announced that discussions would commence "right away" in the Middle East, yet Ukraine's position on the suggested phased ceasefire remained unclear. 

During a phone conversation on Tuesday, President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin reached an agreement to aim for a 30-day limited ceasefire focused on energy and infrastructure within the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, according to the White House. 

The White House described this as an initial step toward achieving peace, which includes a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea and a sustainable resolution to the ongoing turmoil. "Both leaders concurred that this conflict must conclude with a durable peace," the statement read, adding, "The resources and lives being lost in this war by both Ukraine and Russia should be invested in the welfare of their citizens." 

The White House indicated that talks on these proposals would "start promptly" in the Middle East. Nonetheless, the status of Ukraine’s response regarding the proposed phased ceasefire was still uncertain. 

In recent discussions with a US delegation in Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian representatives recommended a limited ceasefire that would encompass the Black Sea, long-range missile operations, and the potential exchange of prisoners. 

The Kremlin reported that Putin expressed support for Trump's suggestion of a maritime ceasefire and "consented to initiate negotiations to develop specific details of such an agreement." 

Putin also conveyed to Trump that both Russia and Ukraine intended to exchange 175 prisoners of war on Wednesday, with Russia agreeing to send back 23 severely injured Ukrainian soldiers, as stated by the Kremlin.