Putin says Russia supports a ceasefire, but there are ‘issues to discuss’
Russian President Vladimir Putin says he supports the idea of a ceasefire with Ukraine but that it must result in a “long-term peace.” He made these remarks during a joint press conference with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko on Thursday, which was broadcast by the state news agency BelTA.
“We agree with the proposal to halt hostilities,” Putin said when asked about the U.S.-backed ceasefire initiative. “But we proceed from the premise that this cessation must lead to a long-term peace and address the root causes of the crisis.”
At the same time, he raised concerns about the terms of the ceasefire, saying a 30-day truce would be beneficial for the Ukrainian side. “We support it, but there are nuances,” Putin said. “What will we do about [Ukrainian army’s] incursion into the Kursk region? If we halt hostilities for 30 days, what does that mean? That all [Ukrainian soldiers] there will simply leave without a fight?”
Russian forces are advancing in almost all sectors. […] How will these 30 days be used? To continue forced mobilization in Ukraine? To send in more weapons? To train newly mobilized units? Or will none of that happen?
Then the question arises: how will control and verification be handled? What guarantees do we have that nothing like this will take place? […] Who will issue the orders to halt hostilities? And what are those orders worth? The [contact line] is nearly 2,000 kilometers long — who will determine where and by whom a possible ceasefire agreement has been violated?
Putin then suggested that Russia should discuss these issues with U.S. President Donald Trump. “The idea itself is the right one, and we certainly support it, but there are issues we need to discuss,” he said.
Ukraine has expressed readiness to accept a 30-day ceasefire if Russia follows suit, based on a proposal put forward during talks between Ukrainian and U.S. delegations in Saudi Arabia on March 11.
But Putin emphasized on Thursday that Russia will negotiate an end to the war “based on how the situation develops on the ground.”
