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Russia wary of proposed Ukraine ceasefire plan as US talks begin Putin questions Ukraine ceasefire plan and sets out string of conditions
(about 5 hours later)
Kremlin aide says proposed 30-day truce would only provide brief reprieve for Ukraine troops Russian president claims Kyiv seeking deal because it is losing on battlefield as he responds to US-brokered proposal
Russia has criticised a proposed US-Ukraine ceasefire, saying it would give Ukrainian forces a reprieve, as Donald Trump’s envoy, Steven Witkoff, arrived in Moscow for peace talks with Vladimir Putin. Vladimir Putin has said he has many questions about the proposed US-brokered ceasefire with Ukraine and appeared to set out a series of sweeping conditions that would need to be met before Russia would agree to such a truce.
The Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said he had told the US national security adviser, Mike Waltz, that Moscow viewed the proposed 30-day ceasefire as “nothing more than a short reprieve for Ukrainian forces”. Speaking at a press conference at the Kremlin alongside the Belarusian president, Alexander Lukashenko, Putin said that he agreed in principle with US proposals to halt the fighting but said he wanted to address the “root causes of the conflict”.
“Steps that merely imitate peaceful actions are not needed by anyone in this situation,” Ushakov said in an interview with Russian state television. “The idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it,” Putin said.
Ushakov’s remarks appeared to be the clearest indication to date that the 30-day ceasefire plan, proposed by the US and accepted in principle by Ukraine, is unacceptable to Moscow in its current form. But he suggested that Ukraine should neither rearm nor mobilise and that western military aid to Kyiv be halted during the 30-day ceasefire.
Ushakov added: “The document, it seems to me, has a hasty character … It will be necessary to work, think and take into account our position too. It outlines only the Ukrainian approach.” Donald Trump responded briefly before a meeting with the Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, saying that Putin had “made a very promising statement, but it was not complete”.
His comments came as Witkoff’s jet landed in Moscow on Thursday, where the close Trump ally is expected to meet Putin at the Kremlin to push for a ceasefire after Washington’s talks with Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The US president said he was “ready to talk to Putin”.
Witkoff, officially Trump’s Middle East envoy, has been acting as a key negotiator in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. “We will see if Russia agrees, and if not, it will be a very disappointing moment,” he said. “I would like to see a ceasefire from Russia. We hope that Russia will do the right thing.”
Ukraine said after the talks with top US diplomats in Jeddah on Tuesday that it was ready to accept an immediate 30-day ceasefire, and the US said it would put the proposal to Russia. Putin claimed that Ukraine was seeking a ceasefire because of the battlefield situation, asserting that Russian forces were “advancing almost everywhere” and nearing full control of the Kursk region, where Kyiv launched a surprise incursion last year.
However, Moscow has been unwilling to commit to any ceasefire or timeline agreement. “How will these 30 days of [ceasefire] be used? To continue forced mobilisation in Ukraine? To supply weapons to Ukraine? … These are legitimate questions,” he said.
Recent rhetoric from Russian officials has been notably sceptical of a temporary ceasefire, indicating little urgency to reach an agreement or make concessions. With the battlefield gains favouring Russia, Moscow appears to see little incentive to freeze the fighting without gaining major concessions. Ukraine has previously indicated it would continue its mobilisation efforts during the 30-day ceasefire.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, cautioned against “getting ahead of things” regarding a Russian response, saying Moscow would discuss the details with the US first. “We need to discuss this with our American partners – perhaps a call with Donald Trump,” Putin added, thanking the US president for his involvement in the peace negotiations.
Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, said on Thursday that Moscow was ready to discuss a US-backed peace initiative “as early as today”. But she also indicated that Russia saw little urgency in halting fighting, reiterating it would not accept western peacekeepers in Ukraine as a security guarantee and that they would be targeted if deployed. By avoiding an outright rejection of Trump’s ceasefire proposal, Putin appears to be balancing between not openly rebuffing Trump’s push for peace while also imposing his own stringent demands – potentially prolonging negotiations.
“We are ready to discuss the initiatives set out there in future contacts with the United States,” Zakharova said. “Russia will not accept the deployment of foreign armed forces in Ukraine, as it would constitute direct involvement in the conflict, and Moscow will respond with all available means.” Speaking from the White House, Trump went into further detail on the US negotiations with Russia and Ukraine, saying that a “lot of individual subjects have been discussed”.
Trump indicated that the US and Ukraine had discussed “pieces of land that would be kept and lost, and all of the other elements of a final agreement. There’s a power plant involved. You know, very big power plant involved. Who’s going to get the power plant and who’s going to get this and that?”
Trump said that Ukraine had also brought up “Nato and being in Nato, and everybody knows what the answer to that is”.
“We’ve been discussing concepts of land because you don’t want to waste time with the ceasefire if it’s not going to mean anything,” Trump said. “So we’re saying: look, this is what you can get, this is what you can’t get.
“Now we’re going to see if Russia’s there and if not it’s going to be a very disappointing moment for the world,” he said.
Asked whether he had any leverage to compel Russia to agree to a ceasefire, Trump said that he did, but did not want to go into detail. “We’re talking to him and based on the statements he made today, they were pretty positive,” he said.
On Wednesday, Trump said that he could do “things financially that would be very bad for Russia” if a ceasefire was not agreed, but did not elaborate on whether he meant new sanctions or tariffs.
The Russian president had travelled to the Kursk region the day before on a rare battlefield visit, where he spoke with Russian troops who were on the verge of expelling Ukrainian forces from the land it captured last year.
“What will happen in the Kursk region? Will an order be given for the troops stationed there to surrender?,” Putin asked.
“How the situation along the frontline will be resolved remains unclear,” he added.
Ukraine has not officially confirmed an organised retreat from the Kursk region but Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that “the military command is doing what it should do – saving the maximum number of lives of our soldiers”.
On Thursday, a source in Ukraine’s military who recently left the Kursk region said: “It’s over. The only question now is managing the withdrawal with as few losses as possible.”
But while Ukraine appears to be withdrawing from Kursk, Kyiv has largely stabilised the front in eastern Ukraine, where a Russian offensive has stalled in recent weeks.
Putin’s remarks came hours after Trump’s envoy and close ally, Steven Witkoff, landed in Moscow, where he is expected to meet the Russian leader to push for a ceasefire after Washington’s talks with Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
After the talks with top US diplomats in Jeddah on Tuesday, Ukraine said it was ready to accept an immediate 30-day ceasefire and the US said it was putting the proposal to Moscow.
Recent rhetoric from Russian officials has been notably sceptical of a temporary ceasefire, signalling little urgency to reach an agreement or make concessions, as Moscow remains on the offensive on the battlefield.
A Kremlin aide, Yuri Ushakov, earlier in the day said he had informed the US national security adviser, Mike Waltz, that Moscow views the proposed 30-day ceasefire as “nothing more than a short reprieve for Ukrainian forces”.
Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, said on Thursday that Moscow was ready to discuss a US-backed peace initiative “as early as today”. But she also indicated that Russia saw little urgency in a halt to fighting, reiterating it would not accept western peacekeepers in Ukraine as a security guarantee and that they would be targeted if deployed.
Ukraine has said it would need some kind of security guarantee in order to sign a lasting ceasefire deal.Ukraine has said it would need some kind of security guarantee in order to sign a lasting ceasefire deal.
Moscow’s continued resistance to European peacekeeping forces – seen by Ukraine as the only viable alternative to Nato membership for guaranteeing its security – presents a major obstacle to a peace acceptable to Kyiv. Moscow’s continued resistance to European peacekeeping forces – seen by Ukraine as the only viable alternative to Nato membership for guaranteeing its security – presents a big obstacle to a peace acceptable to Kyiv.
The Russian president is expected to comment for the first time on the ceasefire proposal on Thursday after his talks with the Belarusian dictator, Alexander Lukashenko, a Moscow ally.
Putin has repeatedly rejected the possibility of a temporary ceasefire, saying he was focused on addressing what he called the “root causes” of the conflict.Putin has repeatedly rejected the possibility of a temporary ceasefire, saying he was focused on addressing what he called the “root causes” of the conflict.
Observers believe Putin is determined to put forward a string of maximalist demands before agreeing to any ceasefire, which is likely to prolong negotiations.Observers believe Putin is determined to put forward a string of maximalist demands before agreeing to any ceasefire, which is likely to prolong negotiations.
Reuters and Bloomberg have reported that Russia, in discussions with the US, has presented a list of such demands to end the war in Ukraine and reset relations with Washington.Reuters and Bloomberg have reported that Russia, in discussions with the US, has presented a list of such demands to end the war in Ukraine and reset relations with Washington.
Peskov declined to comment on Thursday on the media reports. The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, declined to comment on the media reports.
These demands could include the demilitarisation of Ukraine, an end to western military aid, and a commitment to keeping Kyiv out of Nato. Moscow may also push for a ban on foreign troop deployments in Ukraine and international recognition of Putin’s claims to Crimea and the four Ukrainian regions Russia annexed in 2022. These demands could include the demilitarisation of Ukraine, an end to western military aid and a commitment to keeping Kyiv out of Nato. Moscow may also push for a ban on foreign troop deployments in Ukraine and international recognition of Putin’s claims to Crimea and the four Ukrainian regions Russia annexed in 2022.
Putin could also revisit some of his broader demands from 2021, which go beyond Ukraine, including a call for Nato to halt the deployment of weapons in member states that joined after 1997, when the alliance began expanding into former communist countries.Putin could also revisit some of his broader demands from 2021, which go beyond Ukraine, including a call for Nato to halt the deployment of weapons in member states that joined after 1997, when the alliance began expanding into former communist countries.
Many in Europe fear these conditions for peace could weaken the west’s ability to increase its military presence and could allow Putin to expand his influence across the continent.Many in Europe fear these conditions for peace could weaken the west’s ability to increase its military presence and could allow Putin to expand his influence across the continent.
Moscow’s confident rhetoric is reinforced by its recent battlefield gains. On Thursday, the Kremlin said its forces were in the final stages of expelling Ukraine’s army from the Kursk region, where Kyiv had seized Russian territory last year in the hope of using it as leverage in peace negotiations.
The Russian military announced on Thursday it had recaptured Sudzha, the largest town Ukraine held in the region, while Kyiv has indicated that an organised withdrawal is under way.