Washington, March 20, 2025 – U.S. President Donald Trump held what he described as a “very good” one-hour phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, just a day after speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During the conversation, the possibility of U.S. ownership or management of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants was discussed, according to the White House. However, Zelensky later clarified that this discussion was limited to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which is currently under Russian control.
Zelensky expressed optimism that a lasting peace could be achieved this year under Trump’s leadership, a statement that comes in contrast to the tense meeting the two leaders had in the White House last month alongside U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
The call also addressed a potential 30-day ceasefire proposal, previously negotiated by U.S. and Ukrainian teams in Saudi Arabia. While Ukraine and the United States support the plan, Putin rejected the broad ceasefire proposal in his own conversation with Trump.
Zelensky signaled openness to a limited ceasefire that would immediately halt attacks on energy infrastructure, railways, and port facilities. However, he warned that Ukraine would retaliate if Moscow violated the agreement.
