US claims infrastructure included in deal with Russia, Kremlin limits it to energy attacks
Special envoy Steve Witkoff, speaking on CNN on March 19, described the Trump-Putin ceasefire pause as encompassing “energy and infrastructure,” aligning with the White House’s broader phrasing after their March 18 call.
However, the Kremlin’s readout and spokesperson Dmitry Peskov narrowed it to “energy infrastructure,” a potentially significant distinction that could limit the pause’s scope. CNN highlighted that a wider infrastructure halt would have far-reaching implications, unlike the energy-specific focus Moscow claims.
Witkoff, unable to fully clarify the mismatch, suggested any overnight Russian attacks on Ukraine—reportedly targeting energy and transport sites—occurred before Putin’s order to halt energy strikes, issued “within 10 minutes” of the two-and-a-half-hour call ending. However, the bombing continued for several hours afterward.
At the same time, during the briefing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, when asked by CNN about this discrepancy, evaded the question and said that he was "the press secretary of the Russian president."
“President Putin issued an order within 10 minutes of his call with the president directing Russian forces not to be attacking any Ukrainian energy infrastructure,” Witkoff said in an interview on Bloomberg Television. “And any attacks that happened last night would have happened before that order was given. I tend to believe that President Putin is operating in good faith.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy contradicted Putin’s commitment, stating on March 19 that overnight drone strikes hit energy targets, underscoring a gap between words and actions.
Trump-Putin phone call
The conversation between the U.S. and Russian leaders began at 10:00 a.m. EDT and lasted more than two and a half hours.
The discussion included U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the Oval Office, according to CNN.
Judging by the statements made by the White House and the Kremlin following the phone call:
Putin refused a full ceasefire for 30 days and demanded that military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine cease.
At the same time, the dictator allegedly agreed to stop strikes on "energy infrastructure," while the United States presents this idea as a moratorium on attacks on "energy and infrastructure."
The United States and Russia begin negotiations on a ceasefire in the Black Sea.
Bilateral negotiations between the United States and Russia on a peace agreement will continue, and the parties will set up expert groups for this purpose.
Trump and Putin also discussed the Middle East and the need to stop the proliferation of strategic weapons and agreed that "Iran should never be able to destroy Israel."
On March 23, the United States and Russia will hold talks in Jeddah to discuss the agreements reached during the conversation between Trump and Putin, Witkoff said.
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