Speaking at a news conference in Moscow on Thursday, Putin stated, “We support a ceasefire, but there are nuances that need to be explained.” The Russian president challenged the logistics and implementation of the ceasefire, particularly in areas like the Kursk region, which has seen extensive flip-flop control by Russian and Ukrainian troops.
Putin doubted the mechanisms of the ceasefire, whether Ukrainian soldiers would pull back without a fight or if the Ukrainian authorities would instruct their soldiers to surrender. “If we stop the fighting for 30 days, what does it mean? Does it mean that all who are there will leave without a fight?” he wondered. “Or will the Ukrainian leadership order them to drop their weapons and just surrender? How will it be? It is not clear.”
In addition to these issues, Putin emphasised the need for assurances that Ukraine would not use the 30-day period to reposition its troops or expand its front lines. He also requested that anyone tell him who was going to oversee and ensure compliance with the ceasefire and averred that such issues “need careful scrutiny on both sides.”
Despite these doubts, Putin reiterated that Russia is in support of the idea of peaceful resolution of the conflict, adding, “The idea itself is to end this conflict with peaceful means. We support it.” He also thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for his interest in the settlement in Ukraine, which shows that Russia is ready to resume negotiations.
Putin made the comment during a visit by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow to sit down with Russian officials to negotiate the ceasefire proposal. Witkoff’s trip is among the most recent efforts by the Biden administration to facilitate peace talks between Ukraine and Russia and to pressure the Kremlin into agreeing to a ceasefire.
While Putin indicated that Russia would be open to a ceasefire, his words were soon denounced by Ukrainian officials. President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the Russian president for using the call for a ceasefire as a strategy for procrastination towards peace. On social media, Zelensky described Putin’s response as “manipulative,” accusing him of setting conditions that would in practice guarantee serious negotiations could not take place.
“Putin, of course, is too scared to directly tell President Trump that he wants to extend this war, wants to kill Ukrainians,” Zelensky said. “He doesn’t say ‘no’ but sets such terms for an actual ceasefire that it is impossible to do.”
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