Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned he assuredly with the theory of a ceasefire in Ukraine, however that “questions” remained in regards to the nature of a truce as he set off quite a few tricky statuses.
The Russian president used to be responding to a plan for a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine assuredly to previous this past next talks with the United States.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described Putin’s reaction to the plan as “manipulative” and referred to as for extra sanctions on Russia.
In the meantime, the United States positioned additional sanctions on Russian oil, gasoline and banking sectors.
Talking at a information convention in Moscow on Thursday, Putin mentioned of the ceasefire proposal: “The idea is right – and we support it – but there are questions that we need to discuss.”
A ceasefire will have to govern to “an enduring peace and remove the root causes of this crisis”, Putin mentioned.
“We need to negotiate with our American colleagues and partners,” he mentioned. “Maybe I’ll have a call with Donald Trump.”
Putin added: “It will be good for the Ukrainian side to achieve a 30-day ceasefire.
“We’re to be preferred of it, however there are nuances.”
One of the areas of contention is Russia’s Kursk region, Putin said, where Ukraine launched a military incursion last year and captured some territory.
He claimed Russia was fully back in control of Kursk, and said Ukrainian troops there “had been independent”.
“They’re seeking to let go, however we’re in keep watch over. Their apparatus has been unwanted.”
“There are two choices for Ukrainians in Kursk – give up or die.”
Outlining some of his questions over how a ceasefire would work, Putin asked: “How will the ones 30 days be worn? For Ukraine to mobilise? Rearm? Educate family? Or none of that? Next a query – how will that be managed?”
“Who will give the series to finish the preventing? At what price? Who makes a decision who has damaged any imaginable ceasefire, over 2,000km? All the ones questions want meticulous paintings from either side. Who polices it?”
Putin “doesn’t say negative without delay”, Zelensky said in his nightly video address, but “in observe, he’s getting ready a rejection”.
“Putin, after all, is afraid to inform President Trump without delay that he desires to proceed this warfare, desires to shoot Ukrainians.”
The Russian leader had set so many pre-conditions “that not anything will determine in any respect”, Zelensky mentioned.
After Putin’s remarks and Zelensky’s response, there is now a clear divide between both sides’ positions.
Ukraine wants a two-stage process: a quick ceasefire and then talks about a longer-term settlement.
Russia believes you cannot separate the two processes and all the issues should be decided in a single deal. Both sides seem content to argue their differences.
Ukraine believes it can put pressure on Russia, painting it as a reluctant peacemaker, playing for time. Russia, equally, believes it has a chance now to raise its fundamental concerns, about Nato expansion and Ukraine’s sovereignty.
But this presents a problem for Donald Trump. He has made it clear he wants a quick result, ending the fighting in days.
And right now, Putin does not appear to want to play ball.
Getty ImagesSpeaking at the White House following Putin’s remarks, Trump said he would “love” to meet the Russian leader and that he hoped Russia would “do the correct factor” and agree to the proposed 30-day truce.
“We’d like to look a ceasefire from Russia,” he said.
Speaking earlier at a meeting in the Oval Office with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump told reporters he had already discussed specifics with Ukraine.
“We’ve been discussing with Ukraine land and items of land that may be stored and misplaced, and all the alternative components of a last word,” Trump said.
“A dozen of the main points of a last word have in reality been mentioned.”
On the subject of Ukraine joining the Nato military alliance, Trump said “everyone is aware of what the solution to this is”.
The fresh sanctions on Russian oil and gas came as the Trump administration further restricted access to US payment systems, making it harder for other countries to buy Russian oil.
Meanwhile, Putin met US special envoy Steve Witkoff behind closed doors in Moscow.
Earlier in the day, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov rejected the ceasefire proposal put forward by the US.
On Wednesday, the Kremlin released a video it said showed Putin visiting Russia’s Kursk region, symbolically dressed in military fatigues. Russia later said it recaptured the key town of Sudzha.
Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022, and now controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.
More than 95,000 people fighting for Russia’s military have died in the war.
Ukraine closing up to date its casualty figures in December 2024, when President Volodymyr Zelensky said 43,000 Ukrainian deaths amongst infantrymen and officials. Western analysts consider this determine to be underestimated.