Russian President Vladimir Putin has signaled openness to a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine as proposed by the United States, but stressed that the agreement must address the root causes of the conflict and ensure a lasting peace.
During a news conference at the Kremlin following talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin said: “We agree with the proposals to cease hostilities. 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.”
His comments indicate that while Moscow is open to negotiations, it will not accept a deal that merely offers Kyiv a temporary respite.
US Envoy in Moscow for Ceasefire Talks
Amid intensified diplomatic efforts, US envoy Steve Witkoff is in Moscow to present Washington’s ceasefire proposal. However, the Kremlin has warned against any “hasty” agreement that does not address its concerns.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump, who has expressed optimism about brokering peace, said: “If we can get Russia to stop, then we have a full ceasefire. And I think it’ll never go back to war.”
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Even as ceasefire talks gain momentum, Russia continues to make territorial advances. On Thursday, Moscow claimed to have pushed Ukrainian forces out of Sudzha, a town in Russia’s Kursk region. The Kremlin’s sustained military push raises questions about its true intentions regarding a ceasefire.
Zelenskyy: “Russia Does Not Want Peace”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed skepticism over Moscow’s response, stating that Russia’s silence on the ceasefire proposal proves it wants to prolong the war.
“Regrettably, for more than a day already, the world has yet to hear a meaningful response from Russia to the proposals made,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media.
“This once again demonstrates that Russia seeks to prolong the war and postpone peace for as long as possible.”
