Russia has agreed to a limited energy and infrastructure ceasefire in Ukraine as part of the US-led initiative to end the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the White House has confirmed. In a statement released after 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.”

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed during a call on Tuesday to seek a limited ceasefire against energy and infrastructure targets in the Russia-Ukraine war, according to the White House. The White House described it as the first step in a “movement to peace” it hopes will eventually include a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea and a full and lasting end to the fighting. The White House said negotiations would “begin immediately” on those steps. It was not immediately clear whether Ukraine is on board with the phased ceasefire plan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to a limited ceasefire in the war in Ukraine by ending the targeting of energy and infrastructure for 30 days. The agreement came during a 90-minute phone call on Tuesday with U.S. President Donald Trump. According to a U.S. summary of the call; “the leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace.” Discussions on the details would begin immediately in the Middle East, the statement added. “Both leaders agreed this conflict needs to end with a lasting peace. They also stressed the need for improved bilateral relations between the United States and Russia.”