Fighting goes on as historic call leades to only a partial ceasefire and Putin keeps his 'red lines'

DONALD Trump and Vladimir Putin agreed a partial ceasefire in Ukraine after historic telephone talks.

- By Martyn Brown Political Editor

The leaders took the first steps towards peace, with Putin agreeing to pause strikes on energy targets for 30 days.

But the Russian tyrant rejected a proposal for an immediate end to the war.

Sir Keir Starmer welcomed “the progress president Trump has made towards a ceasefire” but the Prime Minister insisted negotiations must lead to a “just and lasting peace for Ukraine”.

His spokeswoman added: “We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes to ensure Russia can never launch an illegal invasion again.”

The deal means no end to fighting and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia was “not ready even for the first step, which is a ceasefire”.

But Mr Trump declared that yesterday’s telephone conversation with Putin to find a way to end the attritional three-year conflict “was a very good and productive one”.

Game

He added on his Truth Social platform last night: “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.

“This War would have never started if I were President!

“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 Zelensky would like to see it end.