Newsman: Russia’s President Vladimir Putin raised questions regarding a 30-day ceasefire during a press briefing in Moscow on Thursday. Speaking at the press conference alongside Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Russian leader said he agrees with proposals to halt military action — but notes there are several catches or “nuances.”
U.S. and Ukrainian officials agreed to a total 30-day ceasefire during talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, earlier this week. The ball is now “truly in their court,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said of Russia following the talks in Jeddah.
Vladimir Putin says he backs a ceasefire, but don’t hold your breath for an immediate breakthrough.
Russia’s president laid out what looked like a raft of delaying questions and burdensome conditions on American proposals to end the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine.
“These are all issues that require careful investigation from both sides,” Putin said.
“I am for it [the ceasefire]. But if we stop here in Kursk for 30 days, it would mean that the Ukrainian military would have several opportunities,” Putin added, outlining a further series of questions he had.
“How will these 30 days be used? for the purpose of continuing forced mobilization in Ukraine? for the purpose of supplying weapons there? For the purpose of newly mobilized personnel to undergo training? Or will nothing of this kind be done? Then a question arises: How will the issues of control, verification be addressed?” he asked, according to a transcript carried by TASS.
Very much looking like he was playing for time, Putin said “all these questions need to be thoroughly studied in the near future.”
“I think we need to discuss this with our American partners, maybe we need to have a phone conversation with [U.S.] President Trump. But we support ending this conflict in a peaceful way,” he said.
“We agree with the proposals to stop military actions, but we proceed from the fact that this cessation should be such that it would lead to long-term peace and eliminate the root causes of the crisis,” the Russian leader noted.
“The root causes of the crisis” are a long series of Russian grievances about Ukraine, where it will be hard to find common ground for a long-term peace settlement.
“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,” Putin said, highlighting concerns regarding Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces pushed into last year in a surprise offensive but in recent weeks have seen Russian forces retake significant ground.
“If we stop the hostilities for 30 days, what does it mean? Does it mean that everyone who is there will leave without a fight?” Putin said. “Or the Ukrainian leadership will give them an order to lay down their arms and just surrender? How will it be? It is not clear.”
Putin suggested Russia should talk with Trump to discuss his concerns, while adding, “But the idea itself is to end this conflict with peaceful means. We support it.”
At the top of his remarks, the president thanked Trump “for his attention to Ukraine’s settlement.”
“We believe that this ceasefire should lead to a long-term peace and eliminate the initial causes of this crisis,” Putin said.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Putin’s comments “very predictable” and “manipulative” in his Thursday evening address.
“Putin, of course, is afraid to tell President Trump directly that he wants to continue this war, wants to kill Ukrainians. And that is why they there, in Moscow, are setting the idea of silence with such preconditions that nothing will work out at all or that it will not work out for as long as possible,”
Zelenskyy said. “Putin often does this — he does not say ‘no’ directly, but does so in a way that practically only delays everything and makes normal decisions impossible. We believe that all this is now — another Russian manipulation.”
Trump described Thursday’s discussions between the U.S. and Russian officials as “very serious” during remarks from the Oval Office.
“Things are going OK in Russia,” he said, adding that it “doesn’t mean anything until we hear what the final outcome is.”
“Hopefully they will do the right thing,” he said of Russia, saying he would like to see Moscow accept the 30-day ceasefire.
Trump reaffirmed on Thursday that negotiations are underway for the ceasefire, with the administration trying to get Russia past the finish line on a deal.
Trump said many of these details for the final agreement “have already been discussed,” but he threw the onus on Russia to make the deal.
“Now we’re going to see if Russia is there and, if not, it will be a very disappointing moment for the world,” he said.
“I hope Russia is going to make the deal, too,” Trump added, “I don’t think they’re going back to shooting again.”
In the wide-ranging remarks to the press Thursday, Trump stressed Putin would not invade other European countries, adding the U.S. will make sure of it. “I don’t see that happening, and we will make sure it doesn’t happen,” Trump said.
When asked if he had leverage on Putin and if he would consider sanctioning Russia, Trump said he has leverage but that because they’re talking with Putin, he’s focused on making a deal.
The ceasefire proposal is “phase one” of the peace process, Trump said, noting that discussions on a final agreement have touched on who will get certain pieces of land and a “very big power plant.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at a Wednesday briefing,
Witkoff’s trip is “part of our continued efforts to press Russia to agree to a ceasefire and stop its brutal war against Ukraine,”
Witkoff will meet with Putin on Thursday night in a closed format, according to Russian foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov.
Putin will meet with United States President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in a closed-door meeting at the Kremlin on Thursday night. He is being careful to say he broadly supports the initiative, but is simultaneously setting out what he sees as impediments to an overnight breakthrough.
