Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia agrees to the ceasefire proposal by the United States but argued that some issues still need to be addressed.
“We agree with the proposal for a ceasefire (with Ukraine) to cease hostilities, but we proceed from the fact that this ceasefire should lead to an enduring peace, and should remove the root causes of this crisis,” Putin said during a news conference with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
Also read: ‘Could do things very bad for Russia’: Trump warns Putin amid Ukraine ceasefire talks
Trump said on Wednesday that “it’s up to Russia now” as his administration presses Moscow to agree to the ceasefire, following peace talks between US and Ukrainian officials that resulted in Kyiv agreeing to a 30-day US-backed ceasefire covering the entire frontline.
Putin questioned what a ceasefire would mean in light of the recent Ukrainian “incursion” in Kursk. “Would that mean that everybody there would leave? Should we release them after they have committed numerous crimes against civilians there, or will the Ukrainian leadership command them to surrender? What will happen? That’s not clear,” he said.
He also raised concerns that a ceasefire could allow Ukraine to rearm while Russia is advancing. “How will other aspects be dealt with along the 2000 kilometer contact line? As you know, the Russian troops are advancing practically in every sector of the contact line, and all the conditions are there for us to besiege fairly large units. So what would happen during those 30 days?” Putin said. He added, “Would that allow Ukraine to continue a forced mobilization, a supply of arms to Ukraine, so that the newly mobilized units can be trained, or will that not be done?”
Putin also asked who would monitor the ceasefire.
“Who will give orders to cease hostilities? And what will these orders be worth, along 2000 kilometers? Who will decide where there’s been a violation of the possible ceasefire agreement along all along the 2000 kilometer line, and who will be blamed? Who will be blamed for violating the ceasefire? All these issues need to be carefully, painstakingly studied by both sides,” he said.
He concluded by saying that Russia supports the idea of a ceasefire but believes further discussions are needed. “So the idea is good, and we absolutely support it, but there are issues we need to discuss and I think we need to negotiate with our American colleagues and partners, maybe a phone call with President Trump, but the very idea of ending this conflict by peaceful means we support that.”
Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia’s lack of a “meaningful” response to the US ceasefire proposal shows it wants to continue the war.
“Regrettably, for more than a day already, the world has yet to hear a meaningful response from Russia to the proposals made. This once again demonstrates that Russia seeks to prolong the war and postpone peace for as long as possible. We hope that US pressure will be sufficient to compel Russia to end the war,” Zelensky said in a statement on social media.
Moreover, the Russian ministry of defence announced on Thursday that it had regained control of Sudzha, the largest town in the Kursk region, from Ukrainian forces.
Also read: Russia retakes key Kursk town after Putin visit
Ukrainian troops had been in control of the area since their surprise border offensive in August 2024.