Putin Supports Ukraine Ceasefire Proposal but Expresses Skepticism | News

Putin supports US ceasefire plan but insists on guarantees for a long-lasting peace to address root causes of conflict.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed support for a US-backed 30-day ceasefire proposal in Ukraine but emphasized that the details of the agreement need to be discussed. He also stressed that any truce should pave the way for a sustainable peace.

“We agree with the proposals to cease hostilities,” Putin told reporters during a press conference at the Kremlin on Thursday following talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

“But we proceed from the fact that this cessation should be such that it would lead to long-term peace and would eliminate the original causes of this crisis,” he added.

“The idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it. But there are issues that we need to discuss,” Putin said. “And I think we need to talk to our American colleagues as well,” he stated.

Shortly after Putin’s remarks, US President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that Putin’s statement was “very promising” but “wasn’t complete.” Trump said he was open to meeting or speaking with the Russian leader.

Trump mentioned that US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff was engaged in serious discussions with Russian officials in Moscow.

Al Jazeera’s correspondent Dorsa Jabbari, reporting from Moscow, noted that Russia is seeking guarantees that the ceasefire will not be exploited by Ukrainian troops, particularly in Russia’s Kursk region, to receive weapons. Moscow also wants to discuss who will monitor the truce, she said.

“Putin said that he’s going to speak with the US president soon to convey his concerns and questions that remain at this point, but for the time being, [he is] making it clear that Russia is in favour of ending this conflict, but it has to be clearly on their terms,” Jabbari reported.

This flurry of diplomatic activity comes as Russian forces continue to make territorial gains in eastern Ukraine, including recapturing areas in the Russian region of Kursk that Ukrainian troops had seized in a surprise incursion last August.

Analysts suggest that Ukraine had hoped to retain control of this territory and use it as leverage in negotiations. However, Russia recently intensified efforts to regain control, and the Kremlin announced on Thursday that its operation in Kursk was in its final stages.

In the past, Putin’s demands have included Ukraine dropping its bid to join NATO, Russia maintaining control over territories seized since the start of the war, and Ukraine recognizing Russia’s annexation of four partially occupied regions in southeastern Ukraine.

“They see [the ceasefire talks] as an opportunity to get what they need in order to achieve a long-term settlement in the conflict with Ukraine, because they are adamant that their demands have to be met,” Jabbari explained.

Putin’s comments followed an announcement by Ukraine that it would accept the US ceasefire proposal after talks with US officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Following the meeting, the US announced the resumption of military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv after a temporary pause.

The US 30-day ceasefire proposal does not include security guarantees for Ukraine—something Trump has rejected, stating that such guarantees should be provided by Ukraine’s European allies.