Bangladesh, March 20 -- The leaders of the European Union have expressed cautious optimism following the phone conversation between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 18, during which they discussed a potential ceasefire in Ukraine. While some European leaders welcomed the move as a step toward de-escalation, others voiced concerns over the credibility of Russias commitments and the implications of a US-Russia peace deal for Ukraine and the broader European security landscape.

During the 2.5-hour conversation, Putin reportedly agreed to halt Russian strikes on Ukraines energy infrastructure for 30 days and conduct a prisoner exchange with Kiev on March 20. According to the Kremlin, Putin emphasized th...