Putin expresses willingness to halt strikes on energy infrastructure

During a conversation with President Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated yesterday that he would accept a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure in Russia’s conflict with Ukraine, provided both sides adhere to the agreement, according to the Kremlin. However, Putin did not endorse a broader, 30-day cease-fire proposed by the United States and Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated that he is open to a suspension of strikes on energy targets but insisted that the agreement must be mutual. He stated, “We cannot allow Russia to attack our energy sector and for us to remain silent. We will retaliate if necessary.”

Putin informed Trump that “the key condition” to resolving the conflict was an end to military and intelligence assistance to Ukraine by the West. This path, he added, “would leave Ukraine indefinitely vulnerable to Russia.”

The White House stated that a pause on energy strikes would represent a step towards peace. However, the outcome of the call with Putin seemed to fall considerably short of what Trump had suggested was feasible.

Analysis: Ceasing attacks on energy targets would benefit both countries. Ukraine has been challenged by Russia’s repeated assaults on its power grid, while Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil and gas facilities have endangered a crucial revenue source.

Related:

• The United States is seeking access to Ukraine’s minerals, which require substantial energy to process. The Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia power plant in southern Ukraine could assist in achieving this goal, according to Kyiv.

• Russia has significantly increased its sabotage campaign in an attempt to pressure Europe and the U.S. to curb their support for Ukraine, a study found.

Israeli strikes on Gaza result in over 400 deaths

Israeli forces conducted devastating airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, violating a temporary cease-fire with Hamas that began in January. The strikes caused the deaths of over 400 individuals, including children, according to Gaza’s health ministry, marking one of the deadliest days of the conflict. For more details, read here.

The attacks followed weeks of unproductive talks aimed at extending the fragile cease-fire. The first phase of the truce expired in early March, yet it largely held as diplomats sought to negotiate an extension to free the surviving Israeli hostages and conclude the conflict. Of the 59 hostages still in Gaza, fewer than half are believed to be alive.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested that Israel would continue attacking in conjunction with negotiations. He stated, “This is just the beginning. We will continue battling to achieve all the war’s objectives.” Hamas officials contended that Israel had brazenly undermined the truce, but they had no immediate military retaliation.

Analysis: Israel seems to have returned to a state of war in an effort to crush Hamas’s aspirations to maintain control of Gaza, write Patrick Kingsley and Ronen Bergman.

“For more than two centuries,” Roberts stated, “it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision.” The judge, who was attacked by Trump, had ordered a halt to the deportation of hundreds of migrants to El Salvador.

Context: The deportation case has emerged as a flashpoint in a larger debate over presidential power and the role of courts to review how that power is applied.

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That’s it for today’s briefing. See you tomorrow. — Natasha

Contact Natasha and the team at briefing@nytimes.com.