Topline
Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested Thursday he supports the U.S.’ proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, according to multiple reports, but potentially with major caveats.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a press conference following a meeting with his Belarusian … [+]
POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesKey Facts
Putin said during a press conference Thursday, as President Donald Trump’s Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow, “it seems to me, it would be very good for the Ukrainian side to reach a truce for at least 30 days, and we are for it, but there is a nuance,” ABC News reported.
But he also said “there are questions we have to discuss,” according to The Wall Street Journal, alluding to “the elimination of the root causes” of the war, which he has blamed, in part, on Ukraine’s desire to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Thanking Trump at the start of the press conference, Putin raised concerns about how the ceasefire would play out, asking “does it mean that everyone who is there will leave without a fight?” and who will determine any violations of the agreement.
Putin, who is expected to meet with Witkoff Thursday, also raised concerns about the fate of Russia’s Kursk region, where fighting has escalated as Russia seeks to push out Ukrainian forces that occupied a portion of the region last year.
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Tangent
The U.S. resumed aid to Ukraine this week after Kyiv said it would support the U.S. ceasefire proposal, following talks between Ukrainian and U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia. The U.S. also agreed to lift its moratorium on intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Both measures were implemented after Trump’s explosive meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington last month, where Trump accused the Ukrainian president of being unwilling to negotiate an end to the war and being ungrateful for U.S. aid to Ukraine.
Key Background
Russian officials have signaled a deal could be far from certain in the days since Ukraine announced it agreed to the U.S. proposal, as Russia has made no indications it will make concessions for its demands, including limiting military activity with a range of Russian territory and international recognition that Crimea and four provinces in Ukraine belong to Russia, according to Reuters. Russian foreign policy aid Yuri Ushakov told reporters Thursday the deal would give Russia “nothing” and would “only give the Ukrainians a chance to regroup, consolidate their forces and keep doing the same thing in the future,” the Associated Press reported. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters ahead of Witkoff’s visit that Russia “doesn’t want to get ahead of itself” and will “not prejudge” any potential outcomes of the negotiations. Zelenskyy on Thursday accused Russia of slow-walking negotiations and seeking to “prolong the war and postpone peace for as long as possible.”
Further Reading
Ukraine Ceasefire Talks: Trump Envoy Flies To Moscow As Russian Offensive Continues (Forbes)
Russia ‘Examining’ 30-Day Ukraine Ceasefire Plan Backed By Trump Administration (Forbes)
Trump, Zelenskyy, Vance Face Off In Oval Office Shouting Match—Here’s Everything They Said (Forbes)
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