Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday that Russia is open to a US-proposed ceasefire in Ukraine, but emphasised that any agreement must address the fundamental causes of the ongoing conflict.
Speaking at a news conference in the Kremlin after talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin stated, “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.”
US push for a 30-day ceasefire
The proposal, introduced by US President Donald Trump, aims for a 30-day cessation of hostilities. Trump expressed optimism that Russia would support the ceasefire to end the ongoing “bloodbath.” Ukraine has also indicated support for the temporary truce.
“The idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it,” Putin said while noting that “there are issues that we need to discuss. And I think we need to talk to our American colleagues as well.”
Putin expressed a willingness to engage in further dialogue with the US, stating that he might reach out to Trump for a discussion on the ceasefire’s specifics. “We support the idea of ending this conflict by peaceful means,” Putin affirmed, signalling an openness to negotiation.
Military developments
On Wednesday, Putin visited a command post in Russia’s Kursk region, near the Ukraine border. Wearing a green camouflage uniform, he reviewed ongoing military operations, as Russian forces advance and Ukraine faces the potential loss of key positions. Russian troops currently control nearly a fifth of Ukraine’s territory, marking significant gains in the conflict that began in 2022.
As discussions progress, global attention will focus on whether the ceasefire can pave the way for a long-term resolution to the war.
(With Reuters inputs)