The White House announced that U.S. President Trump and Russian President Putin agreed during a lengthy phone call to seek a limited ceasefire targeting energy and infrastructure in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine on Tuesday, Mar. 18.

The White House described this as the first step toward a “movement to peace,” hoping to eventually lead to a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea and a full, lasting end to the conflict.

“Both leaders agreed this conflict needs to end with a lasting peace,” the White House said in a statement. “The blood and treasure that both Ukraine and Russia have been spending in this war would be better spent on the needs of their people.”

Additionally, the White House revealed that negotiations would “begin immediately” in the Middle East, although it remains unclear whether Ukraine supports the phased ceasefire plan.

Ukrainian officials had proposed a limited ceasefire covering the Black Sea, halting long-range missile strikes, and releasing prisoners during their talks with the U.S. delegation in Saudi Arabia earlier this month.

Putin welcomed Trump’s calls for a maritime ceasefire and “agreed to begin negotiations to further work out specific details of such an agreement.” Putin also told Trump that Russia and Ukraine would exchange 175 prisoners of conflict on Wednesday, and Russia would hand over 23 severely wounded Ukrainian soldiers, the Kremlin said.

Putin also urged Trump to end foreign military and intelligence support to Ukraine. Trump, in turn, said the White House was pushing Russia to sign off on a 30-day ceasefire proposal aimed at ending the conflict. Ukrainian officials agreed to the 30-day ceasefire proposal last week, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he remains skeptical that Putin is ready for peace, citing Russia’s continued attacks.

This engagement marks the latest shift in U.S.-Russia relations as Trump makes ending the conflict a top priority, even at the cost of strained relations with longtime American allies.