White House: Russia agrees to energy, infrastructure ceasefire in Ukraine

The Guardian reports.

Russia has agreed to a limited ceasefire on energy and infrastructure targets in Ukraine as part of a U.S.-led initiative to end the conflict, the White House has confirmed.

In a statement following Donald Trump’s call with Vladimir Putin, the White House said the two sides agreed to hold “technical negotiations” on a maritime ceasefire, and, further, full ceasefire and permanent peace.

“These negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East,” the White House said.

Trump and Putin also “agreed that a future with an improved bilateral relationship between the US and Russia has huge upside,” with “enormous economic deals and geopolitical stability.”

The Kremlin readout added Moscow’s “key condition” to prevent further escalation of the conflict in a demand to “completely cease” foreign military aid and intelligence sharing for Ukraine.

But the readout confirms that Putin has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire on energy infrastructure, and says the Russian leader has already issued relevant orders.