Putin agrees to limited ceasefire in Ukraine

Vladimir Putin has agreed to a limited ceasefire against Ukraine's energy infrastructure, but the Russian leader declined to commit to a month-long full truce, after a high-stakes phone call with Donald Trump.

- Pjotr Sauer and Shaun Walker, Kyiv David Smith, Washington

A statement said Putin had issued an order to suspend strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, last night said he supported a US proposal for a ceasefire aimed at halting such attacks.

If upheld by both sides, a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure would mark the first partial ceasefire in more than three years since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

But Putin pushed back against Trump's plan for an immediate 30day total ceasefire, which Ukraine agreed to last week, denting hopes of the US president's plan bringing a quick end to hostilities.

On his Truth Social platform, Trump described the conversation with Putin as "very good and productive". He added: "We agreed to an immediate Ceasefire on all Energy and Infrastructure, with an understanding that we will be working quickly to have a Complete Ceasefire and, ultimately, an END to this very horrible War between Russia and Ukraine." Trump added: "Many elements of a Contract for Peace were discussed, including the fact that thousands of soldiers are being killed, and both President Putin and President Zelenskyy would like to see it end.