Trump, Putin Discuss Moves to End Ukraine War in Phone Call

White House Upbeat About Call in Early Update as US Pushes for 30-Day Ceasefire

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MOSCOW - US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed moves to end the Ukraine war on March 18, and the White House said in an early update that their phone call was going well.

Mr. Trump hoped to convince Mr. Putin to accept a US-proposed 30-day ceasefire and move towards a permanent end to the three-year-old conflict.

A White House official said the two leaders started the call at 1400 GMT (10 pm, Singapore time).

Ukraine has agreed to a ceasefire in Europe's biggest conflict since World War II, in which hundreds of thousands of people have been killed or wounded, millions have been displaced, and towns have been reduced to rubble.

Mr. Putin said last week he supported in principle Washington's proposal for a 30-day truce but that his forces would fight on until several crucial conditions were worked out.

Mr. Trump hoped to persuade Mr. Putin to also accept the ceasefire and allow progress towards a longer-term peace plan which he has hinted could include territorial concessions by Kyiv and control of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.