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Sonam Sheth is an Night Politics Editor at Newsweek who is predicated in New York. She joined Newsweek in 2024 and beforehand labored at Enterprise Insider and CNBC. Sonam has intensive expertise protecting nationwide safety, international coverage, elections, and tales on the intersection of regulation and politics. Her work has been cited in The Washington Put up, The Atlantic, Vainness Truthful, and others. She has additionally ceaselessly appeared on nationwide tv and radio, together with MSNBC, NBC Information, BBC World Information, BBC Information radio, and extra. You will get in contact with Sonam at s.sheth@newsweek.com. Languages: English, Hindi, and French.

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Gabe Whisnant is a Breaking Information Editor at Newsweek based mostly in North Carolina. Previous to becoming a member of Newsweek in 2023, he directed every day publications in North and South Carolina. As an government editor, Gabe led award-winning protection of Charleston church shooter Dylan Roof’s seize in 2015, together with protection of the Alex Murdaugh double homicide trial. He’s a graduate of the College of North Carolina-Wilmington. You will get in contact with Gabe by emailing g.whisnant@newsweek.com. Discover him on Twitter @GabeWhisnant.

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Night Politics Editor

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is asking for transparency following Tuesday’s high-stakes cellphone name between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Context

Trump and Putin’s name got here after weeks of negotiations between American, Russian and Ukrainian officers about coming to a ceasefire settlement within the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Whereas the US and Russia expressed a shared curiosity in de-escalation, the official readouts of the dialog diverged on key particulars, significantly relating to the scope of a ceasefire.

Putin agreed to a partial ceasefire—versus a broader ceasefire, which each the U.S. and Ukraine had hoped for—however solely on the situation that Ukraine not rearm and that every one U.S. navy and intelligence assist to Ukraine be minimize off.

Russia additionally demanded different steep concessions from Ukraine, together with that it drop its efforts to affix NATO and defend the Russian language and tradition so it stays in Moscow’s orbit.

What To Know

Zelensky expressed “skepticism” at a information convention after the Trump-Putin cellphone name however conceded that “if there’s a partial ceasefire, it is a optimistic end result.”

However he careworn the necessity for full transparency within the negotiations and posed one key query.

“We have to perceive what the dialog is about,” Zelensky instructed reporters, based on the Related Press. “What are the main points? And hopefully, we can be absolutely knowledgeable, and our companions will talk about all the pieces with us.”

He added: “There are two sides on this conflict: Russia and Ukraine. Making an attempt to barter with out Ukraine, in my opinion, is not going to be productive.”

Trump’s cellphone name with Putin was the primary recognized dialog between the 2 leaders since Ukraine agreed to a brief 30-day ceasefire with Russia final week.

The Trump administration’s thawing of relations with Russia comes after Trump surprised Ukraine and NATO allies by berating Zelensky at an Oval Workplace assembly final month.

Shortly after the assembly ended, Trump ordered the U.S. to halt navy help to Ukraine till Zelensky agreed to signal a uncommon earth minerals settlement. A number of media experiences additionally mentioned the U.S. had paused some intelligence-sharing with its longtime ally.

Ukraine later mentioned it was able to signal a ceasefire cope with Russia following talks with U.S. officers in Saudi Arabia, topic to the Kremlin’s settlement.

What Individuals Are Saying

President Donald Trump wrote on Reality Social after his name with Vladimir Putin: “My cellphone dialog at the moment with President Putin of Russia was an excellent and productive one. We agreed to a direct Ceasefire on all Vitality and Infrastructure, with an understanding that we are going to be working rapidly to have a Full Ceasefire and, finally, an END to this very horrible Battle between Russia and Ukraine.”

He added: “This Battle would have by no means began if I had been President! Many components of a Contract for Peace had been mentioned, together with the truth that hundreds of troopers are being killed, and each President Putin and President Zelenskyy wish to see it finish. That course of is now in full pressure and impact, and we’ll, hopefully, for the sake of Humanity, get the job achieved!”

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chair of Russia’s Safety Council and the previous president of Russia, gloated about Trump’s name with Putin, writing on X: “The cellphone name between Presidents Putin and Trump proved a well known concept – there’s solely Russia and America within the eating room. On the menu: gentle appetisers – Brussels sprouts, British fish and chips and Paris rooster. The primary course is a Kiev-style cutlet. Get pleasure from your meal!”

What Occurs Subsequent

Shortly after Trump and Putin’s cellphone name, Zelensky posted to X {that a} barrage of Russian drone assaults had hit a hospital in Sumy and energy provides in Slovyansk.

“Sadly, there have been hits, particularly on civilian infrastructure,” Zelensky wrote. “Immediately, Putin successfully rejected the proposal for a full ceasefire.”

This text comprises reporting by the Related Press.

Replace 3/18/25, 6:03 p.m. ET: This text was up to date with further info.

Replace 3/18/25 9:58 p.m. ET: This text was up to date with further info.