Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are set to speak over the phone today as the US President says the two countries are as close as they have ever been to a Ukraine peace deal. Yesterday, Mr Trump said he plans to speak with the Russian President today, and wants to see if the pair can “bring the war to an end”. He added that the two leaders will be talking about land, power plants and “dividing up certain assets”.

It comes after the US and Ukraine agreed on March 11 to a 30-day ceasefire proposal, which the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports is “contingent on Russia’s ‘acceptance and concurrent implementation’.”

“The proposal stated that Ukraine and the United States intend to name their negotiating teams and immediately begin negotiations toward an enduring peace,” experts said, “noting the distinction between the temporary ceasefire and future negotiations on a peace settlement.”

Putin rejected the temporary ceasefire proposal on March 13, claiming that the cessation of hostilities “should be such that it would lead to long-term peace and eliminate the initial causes” of the war.

The ISW added: “Putin thus rejected one of the main principles of the US-Ukrainian proposal — that the temporary ceasefire precedes formal negotiations to end the war.

“The US-Ukrainian temporary ceasefire proposal noted that the United States and Ukraine discussed the return of prisoners of war (POWs), detained civilians, and forcibly deported Ukrainian children — all of which will require future talks with Russia.

“The US-Ukrainian temporary ceasefire proposal did not mention talks with Russia about Ukrainian territory, energy infrastructure, or assets.”

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It added: “Putin also suggested on March 13 that he may call Trump to discuss ‘issues’ involved in the ceasefire proposal, such as Ukraine’s continued ability to mobilise forces and receive military aid from partners and allies — issues notably not included in the US-Ukrainian temporary ceasefire proposal.

“Putin is attempting to change the sequence of talks in order to push Trump into making preemptive concessions on issues that are not part of the US-Ukrainian temporary ceasefire but are part of Russia’s war aims.

“The acceptance of these Russian demands in the context of negotiations for an immediate ceasefire would cede valuable US and Ukrainian leverage during future negotiations to secure a lasting peace in Ukraine.”