Trump, Putin Agree to Russia-Ukraine Energy Infrastructure Ceasefire for 30 Days

FILED - 14 June 2019, Japan, Osaka: US President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting on the sidelines of the 2019 G20 summit. Photo: White House/dpa -
FILED - 14 June 2019, Japan, Osaka: US President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting on the sidelines of the 2019 G20 summit. Photo: White House/dpa -
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Trump, Putin Agree to Russia-Ukraine Energy Infrastructure Ceasefire for 30 Days

FILED - 14 June 2019, Japan, Osaka: US President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting on the sidelines of the 2019 G20 summit. Photo: White House/dpa -
FILED - 14 June 2019, Japan, Osaka: US President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting on the sidelines of the 2019 G20 summit. Photo: White House/dpa -

Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Tuesday to a proposal by US President Donald Trump that Russia and Ukraine cease attacking each other's energy infrastructure for 30 days, the Kremlin said following a lengthy phone discussion between the leaders.

The two countries plan to begin negotiations "immediately" in the Middle East on a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, according to a readout from the White House.

"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," the White House readout said.

Trump had been pressuring Putin to agree to a US-backed 30-day ceasefire that Ukraine has already accepted as part of a move toward a permanent peace deal to end Europe's biggest conflict since World War Two. The war has killed or wounded hundreds of thousands of people, displaced millions and reduced entire towns to rubble.

Putin, whose forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022, said last week he supported in principle Washington's proposal for a truce but that his forces would fight on until several crucial conditions were worked out. 



Al Qaeda Affiliate: 200 Soldiers Killed in Attack on Burkina Military Base

FILE - People ride their scooters in the Gounghin district of Ouagadougou, Jan. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Sophie Garcia, File)
FILE - People ride their scooters in the Gounghin district of Ouagadougou, Jan. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Sophie Garcia, File)
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Al Qaeda Affiliate: 200 Soldiers Killed in Attack on Burkina Military Base

FILE - People ride their scooters in the Gounghin district of Ouagadougou, Jan. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Sophie Garcia, File)
FILE - People ride their scooters in the Gounghin district of Ouagadougou, Jan. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Sophie Garcia, File)

An attack on a Burkina Faso army base killed 200 soldiers, the SITE Intelligence Group quoted Al Qaeda affiliate JNIM as saying on Thursday.

The base in the northern town of Djibo came under attack on Sunday morning, and a police station and market were also targeted, security sources told Reuters.

Although there was no official toll, three Djibo residents told Reuters dozens of soldiers and civilians were killed.

US-based SITE, which tracks online activity of militants, said JNIM made the claim in a formal statement.

"The operation comes amid increased JNIM activity in Burkina Faso over the past month inflicting a high number of casualties," SITE said.

The organization previously said Ousmane Dicko, head of JNIM in Burkina, had appeared in a video urging residents of Djibo to leave the town for their own safety.